The Detroit Red Wings are looking to end the month of March on a high note and turn things around this week (March 30- April 5) as they fight their way back into a playoff spot. After an inconsistent week, the team saw their head coach call them out, while a few players will look to reach individual milestones in this week’s games.
After their disappointing loss to the Philadelphia Flyers on March 28, head coach Todd McLellan did not mince words about how he thought his team performed, and he has done so throughout the season when he deemed fit. At this point in the season, a head coach should not have to call players out for their effort or overall play, even if injuries may be taking a toll on the lineup.
When the team has been called out by McLellan earlier in the season, they have responded with a strong showing the next game out, but they need to take it to another level this week, with each game being as important as a playoff game. Seeing how they respond will be something to surely keep an eye on in the team’s three games this week.
The Goaltending Workload: Fatigue vs. Necessity
If the Wings are going to stabilize, they have to address the crease. John Gibson has been the undisputed workhorse since the Olympic break, but the heavy lifting appears to be taking its toll. Gibson has dropped three of his last four starts, and his early exit against the Flyers — allowing four goals on just 21 shots — was a sign that it might be truly taking a toll on the 32-year-old netminder. He has already played in more games this season (50) than he did in any of the three prior seasons with the Anaheim Ducks. When he is on his game, he has been one of the Red Wings’ biggest X-factors.
The problem is the lack of a safety net. Backup Cam Talbot has been nursing a minor “tweak,” though he was healthy enough to relieve Gibson on Saturday against the Flyers. With a big back-to-back looming this weekend against the New York Rangers and Minnesota Wild, the Red Wings cannot afford to ride Gibson into the ground. They need Talbot to provide at least one quality start to give Gibson a mental and physical reset.
Individual Milestones Amidst the Team Struggle
While the team’s collective play has been uneven, several individual performances are providing a silver lining.
- Alex DeBrincat: He is currently on a nine-game point streak. With 37 goals and 78 points, he could very well hit the 40-goal mark this week. It would mark the third time he has done so in his career and the first time a Red Wing has done so since Marian Hossa in the 2008-09 season.
- Moritz Seider: The 24-year-old cornerstone is having a career year with 53 points. He sits at nine goals, just one shy of reaching double digits for the first time. His evolution into a two-way force is perhaps the strongest argument in favor of Yzerman’s long-term vision.
- Dylan Larkin: The captain remains the heartbeat of the squad. He is one goal away from his fifth consecutive 30-goal season.
A Gauntlet of Eastern Conference Playoff Hopefuls
The schedule-makers haven’t given Detroit an easy path to redemption. This week features four games against opponents that are either direct rivals for a playoff spot or elite contenders looking to sharpen their game.
It begins Tuesday in Pittsburgh. The Penguins are right there in the thick of the wild card race with the Red Wings, making this a “four-point game” in hockey parlance. On Thursday, the Flyers come to Little Caesars Arena. This is more than a revenge game; it’s a chance to leapfrog a team they are currently tied with in the standings.
Related: NHL Playoff Bubble Spotlight: Who Will Survive the Eastern Conference Gauntlet?
The weekend brings a back-to-back gauntlet: the New York Rangers on Saturday, followed by a heavy, defensive Minnesota Wild team on Sunday. If the Red Wings can emerge from this four-game stretch with five or six points, they stay in the race. Anything less, and they’ll likely be relying on help from other teams— a position no pro wants to be in and one they have been in the past few seasons.
Prospect Movement
In an attempt to find a spark, the organization is dipping back into its developmental pool. The recall of forward Carter Mazur from the Grand Rapids Griffins (American Hockey League) is a calculated move. Mazur has been lighting it up for the Griffins with 14 points in his last 14 games, and the hope is that his scoring touch translates to a Detroit middle-six that has gone dry at the wrong time.
On the blue line, the arrival of prospect Anton Johansson in Grand Rapids from Sweden signals the next wave of the pipeline. While Johansson likely won’t see NHL ice this season, his transition to North American pro hockey is a reminder that the “Yzerplan” is still churning in the background, even as the big club fights for its playoff life.
Red Wings Schedule March 30 – April 5
| Date | Opponent | Venue | Time | Game Notes |
| March 31 | @ Pittsburgh Penguins | PPG Paints Arena | 7:00 p.m. (EST) | Third and final meeting of the season vs. Pittsburgh (0-1-1) |
| April 2 | @ Philadelphia Flyers | Xfinity Mobile Arena | 7:00 p.m. (EST) | Second meeting of the season vs. Philadelphia |
| April 5 | vs. Minnesota Wild | Little Caesars Arena | 1:00 p.m. (EST) | Second meeting of the season vs. Minnesota (0-0-1) |
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