The Daily: Red Wings Seek Revenge in San Jose; Philly in Trouble?

The Detroit Red Wings are still trying to escape a 3-9-1 slump and it’s easy to pinpoint exactly where their poor play began.

On Dec. 7, the Red Wings allowed the lowly San Jose Sharks to come back from a four-goal deficit to beat Detroit 6-5 in overtime at Little Caesars Arena. It’s like the Red Wings haven’t recovered from that loss.

Coach Derek Lalonde’s team has a chance to exorcise those demons and exact revenge tonight when it begins a three-game California road trip with a game in San Jose. San Jose is playing even more poorly than Detroit. The Sharks have lost eight games in a row and currently sit in last place in the 32-team NHL.

The Red Wings’ problem has been poor defensive coverage. They have given up 33 goals in their last seven games. The Red Wings have not been able to outscore their defensive lapses. Detroit GM Steve Yzerman called up Zach Aston-Reese from Grand Rapids on Monday.

Red Wings in Case You Missed it

• Former Detroit captain Nicklas Lidstrom‘s nephew is turning heads in the Swedish Hockey League.
• Prospect defenseman Albert Johansson had a two-goal game for the Grand Rapids Griffins on New Year’s’ Eve
• Detroit prospect Anton Johansson does something that Wayne Gretzky used to do. Bob Duff has the story.
• It didn’t take long for former Red Wings player Tomas Jurco to leave his team after he was assaulted by his coach on the bench.

Red Wings Next Game

Tonight the Red Wings play a struggling San Jose squad. Detroit is facing  former teammate Filip Zadina. He’s -7 in his last four games.  Goalie James Reimer played for the Sharks, and could get the start for Detroit against San Jose.

Hockey Now Network

Buffalo: Goaltender Eric Comrie, the former Detroit player, cleared waivers Monday and was sent to Rochester (AHL) . Buffalo Sabres.

Chicago: It’s a new year, but an old story for the Chicago Blackhawks: Their injury list keeps lengthening.

Philadelphia: We are only two days into 2024. But PHN’s Jonathan Bailey wonders if the Philadelphia Flyers are already in trouble. They are 1-2-2 in their last five.

Pittsburgh: Coach Mike Sullivan about the Pittsburgh Penguins‘ recent wave successful hockey: ‘“I don’t know how you define gritty hockey or ugly hockey. I think it’s beautiful hockey. We’re playing the game hard.”

San Jose: Sheng Peng has a lighter story about why Logan Couture once kicked Brent Burns out of the San Jose Sharks football fantasy league.