The Daily: Boring is Better For Red Wings; Flyers Trade Talk

You can bet the Thanksgiving Feast tastes yummier today for a Red Wings team that seems to be figuring out how they need to play to be successful. As Bob Duff wrote Wednesday night, the Red Wings have won three out of four by checking, defending relentlessly and clogging up the opponent’s offensive flow.

Isn’t this exactly how the Red Wings have been trying to play since the start of training camp? They have given up six goals in their last four games.  A GAA of 1.50 will win plenty of games.

And don’t leave goaltending out of this equation: Detroit’s team save percentage of .912 ranks eighth in the NHL. Cam Talbot, the Red Wings’ best offseason acquisition, has yielded two or fewer goals in six of his last eight outings. Talbot boasts a 2.47 GAA and .923 save percentage. Alex Lyon is at 2.74 and .911.

“Our D zone has been unbelievable as of late,” Talbot said. “The guys been doing a good job clogging up the middle, making the other team give up the puck coming into our zone. And once we get to clean up the penalty kill a little bit here, I think you’ll see that number come down even more. But five on five. I mean, our team has been pretty dialed in the defensive zone and it’s something we’ve been focusing on as of late.”

24-save night for Cam Talbot…

Our @xfinity game-changing moment(s)! 🙌 pic.twitter.com/FBrLlEVbKQ

— Detroit Red Wings (@DetroitRedWings) November 28, 2024

Red Wings In Case You Missed It

Happy Thanksgiving. The Red Wings are two points behind the Tampa Bay Lightning for the final Eastern Conference playoff spot. Seventy-five percent of NHL teams that are in a playoff position on Thanksgiving Day will be there in April. But the Red Wings aren’t going to sweat that as long as they in the hunt.

Lucas Raymond is Mr. Clutch for the Detroit Red Wings. He has six overtime tallies.

Ville Husso is back with the Red Wings for now. Alex Lyon tweaked something in practice and had to miss Wednesday night’s game.

Red Wings Extra

The Red Wings’ defensive emphasis will be tested more severely when they face the New Jersey Devils on Friday afternoon. The Devils, averaging 3.36 goals per game, are the NHL’s ninth-best offensive team. On the season, Detroit (10-10-2) is giving up three goals per game.

Hockey Now Network

Boston: Andrew Fantuccio writes that the Bruins’ scoring dam finally broke and the New York Islanders were swept away by the flood of goals. The Bruins netted six goals in the triumph. Boston Bruins. 

Buffalo: It was fun while it lasted. A 1-0 loss to Minnesota drops Buffalo out of a wildcard spot. The fight for the wildcard spots in the East are going to be like this all season. Buffalo Sabres.

Montreal: Patrik Laine is close to joining the Canadiens’ lineup for the first time. Montreal Canadiens.

Philadelphia: Jonathan Bailey explains why Tyson Foerster might be on the list of young forwards the Flyers might be willing to move. Philadelphia Flyers.

Pittsburgh: Sidney Crosby wouldn’t let the Penguins blow their big lead. He is pivotal in Pens win over Vancouver. Pittsburgh Penguins.