Dylan Larkin had a power-play goal and an assist in his 700th career NHL game and the Detroit Red Wings snapped a three-game losing streak with a 4-2 victory over the Montreal Canadiens on Thursday night.
Dylan Larkin had a power-play goal and an assist in his 700th career NHL game and the Detroit Red Wings snapped a three-game losing streak with a 4-2 victory over the Montreal Canadiens on Thursday night.
PHILADELPHIA — Elmer Söderblom's phone rang just as he was about to leave, and the name that popped up demanded answering the call. It was Detroit Red Wings general manager Steve Yzerman, the man who presided over the draft when Söderblom became a part of the organization.
The Red Wings are 8-4-0 since McLellan took over. The power play, despite going 1 for 9 over the weekend, has been potent, converting at nearly 42 percent during this stretch (18 for 43). The penalty killing continues to struggle (16 for 25, 64 percent).
In his first start since Jan. 7, but his second game in two days, goalie Alex Lyon gave up 3 first-period goals in the Detroit Red Wings' 4-1 loss.
The honeymoon phase is well and truly over after a rough four-game outing. Now the Red Wings focus on how to move forward.
“This feels better and better,” Soderblom said. “The confidence just goes up.” For Soderblom to succeed at the highest level, McLellan said the young forward must learn how to use his 6-foot-8, 246-pound frame to his advantage consistently.
The Red Wings have scored one goal in each of their past three games. They were averaging 4.3 goals per game in their previous nine (8-1-0). They were 17 for 34 on the power play during that run. Tuesday’s game was the first all season they didn’t get a power play.
After a disappointing overtime loss against the Philadelphia Flyers, Detroit Red Wings head coach Todd McLellan sent a straightforward message to captain Dylan Larkin and the rest of the team.
But it's on the defensive end that, possibly, bad habits from early in the season are beginning to resurface. McLellan, who took over Dec. 26 and the Wings immediately went 7-2-0 afterward, wants to stomp out those habits before they hurt the Wings again.
Red Wings head coach Todd McLellan opened up about a shift in team mentality following a crushing loss to the Stars.