Red Wings Experiencing Poor Start They Wanted to Avoid

DETROIT — As the Detroit Red Wings flirt with a nightmarish start to the 2024-25 NHL season, the message is simply that they have to wake up.

Despite the emphasis on playing better defense in training camp, the Red Wings have given up four or more goals in three of the first four games. They lost 5-2 to the New York Rangers Thursday to fall to 1-3 going into Saturday’s afternoon game in Nashville.

“Playing in our own end, defending the rush, sorting things out when we’re coming back into our own end, these are all things that we work on every day,” Detroit defenseman Ben Chiarot said.  “It’s obviously very early in the season, (but those are) things that we have to continue to work on, continue to get better at. Those are the most important things for us right now.”

They gave up three power play goals, two by Artemi Panarin, to the Rangers. They were down 5-1 by the 12:20 mark and goalie Cam Talbot wasn’t the problem. Coach Derek Lalonde pulled him with the hope of getting a spark.

“This game got away from us on the special teams,” Lalonde said.

The Rangers were three-of-four on the power play, and the Red Wings were 1-of-6. They are 2-for-16 on the season, and it’s hard not to think some of this is a result of point man Shayne Gostisbehere leaving through free agency last summer. Plus, Detroit lost 18 power play goals from players who left the team through free agency or trade.

Penalties Hurt

New York led 2-1 in the second period after Moritz Seider scored 1:27 in. Then Jonathan Berggren goes to the penalty box for hooking and Vincent Trocheck nets a power play tally. Then Erik Gustafsson  is whistled for high-sticking and Panarin scores his third goal of the game (and his second power play). Now it’s a 4-1 game. Thirty-eight seconds later it’s a 5-1 games.

Gustafsson was returning to the line-up after being a healthy scratch for two games.

“I’d have to look back at the penalties,” Lalonde said. “I don’t know if they stood out. I don’t like the hold of the stick because that ended up starting on a turnover. And then we get extended D zone time and again. We’re 2-1 in the second. We’re pushing, it feels really good. And then we take a penalty. So it’s 3-1 and 4-1. It’s the game. “

The Red Wings have been outscored 15-6 in their three losses. Every loss has been a little different, but the common thread is poor execution of their objectives.

“I think the defending is where it’s going to start and be most important,” said Detroit center J.T. Compher who scored one of Detroit’s goals. “And we got plenty of guys that can score in our lockerroom.”

Coming into the season, scoring was also a concern. They now have nine goals in four games.  A 2.25 scoring average isn’t going to carry a team to the playoffs.

“It’s (about) how we defend,” Chiarot said, “and I think the rest of the stuff will kind of happen on its own. The goals and everything will kind of stem from defending well and getting the puck back.”