Detroit Red Wings

Red Wings Hunt Fifth Win in a Row In Tonight’s Game vs. Calgary

Published

1 year ago

February 16, 2023

The Detroit Red Wings play the Calgary Flames tonight with a chance to accomplish a task that the organization hasn’t completed since 2019.

Detroit have a chance to win a third consecutive game in a single road trip.

The last time that happened was March 23-28 in 2019 when the Red Wings downed the Vegas Golden Knights, San Jose Sharks and Buffalo Sabres. They won each of those games by one goal, including two in overtime.

The Red Wings have downed the Vancouver Canucks and Edmonton Oilers in the first two games of a five-game road trip and they feel like there is something going on with this team. In addition to winning a third consecutive road game, the Detroit squad is trying to win its fifth game in a row. The Red Wings haven’t won five in a row this season, but they did win five consecutive contests last season.

“I think everybody is sticking together,” said defenseman Olli Maatta who today agreed to a new two-year contract with Detroit “All the little plays. It’s not all about scoring goals … it’s little plays on the wall, taking hits, hitting, and everybody is just fired up. You feel like guys want their friends to do well and that’s a huge thing in the room.”

Captain Dylan Larkin has six goals and nine points in his last five years to carry the flag for the Red Wings.

“He’s got some jump going,” coach Derek Lalonde said. “I think he reflects most of our guys. They’re pushing, they’re playing for something. You see just a little bit extra step and he’s a perfect example. He’s had a huge impact. It’s carried us.”

Red Wings Four Points Out

With their recent surge, the Red Wings are only four points out of a playoff spot. The Red Wings (25-20-8) have 58 points and the Capitals hold the final wildcard spot in the Eastern Conference with 62 points. Detroit has three games in hand.

The Flames are a heavy team, hard to play against. It will be a different kind of challenge than the one presented by the Oilers Wednesday

“It’s a tough building and we got to play better,” Maatta said. “There’s things we can fix but there’s a lot of good things we did, too (against the Oilers). It’s just another day. It’s an important game. You win and you give yourself an even better chance, so every game matters.”

Lalonde hasn’t confirmed his lineup for the game, but Magnus Hellberg is expected to play in net because this is the second of back-to-back games. Hellberg hasn’t played since Jan. 27. Ville Husso has played in the four consecutive wins.

Lalonde will also have to make decisions about defenseman Jake Walman who could be ready to come back from an upper body injury. He also has Jakub Vrana on the roster. He was a healthy scratch Wednesday against the Edmonton Oilers.