Tale of Two Special Teams For Red Wings

In the midst of the four-game win streak that the Detroit Red Wings are currently enjoying, not all aspects of the team’s components are clicking.

While the penalty kill is certainly firing on all cylinders, the power play is suddenly sputtering.

The PK is 11-for-12 this season. That 91.7% success rate is good for fifth overall in the NHL.

However, the power play has hit the skids. It has failed to convert on the past four opportunities over the past two games.

Clicking at 22.2%, the Wings are 13th in the NHL with the man advantage.

Coach Todd McLellan offers a simple cause for this sudden negative impact on the team’s power play. They are missing trigger man Lucas Raymond. He’s out with an upper-body injury.

🚨 INJURY UPDATES ⤵️

🚫 Patrick Kane is OUT on Sunday vs. Edmonton with an upper-body injury.

❓ Lucas Raymond, who has missed the past 2 games, is still day-to-day. #LGRW pic.twitter.com/g0DQKiFGzy

— Winged Wheel Podcast (@WingedWheelPod) October 18, 2025

“We didn’t have Raymond, and it affected our power play,” McLellan said.

Heading into Sunday afternoon’s showdown with the Edmonton Oilers, another key element of the Detroit power play will also be out. Patrick Kane is going to be absent on Sunday. It’s also due to an upper-body injury.

Red Wings Penalty Kill Brimming With Confidence

A more aggressive approach while shorthanded has the penalty kill rating among the NHL’s best. The Wings are pressuring the puck, forcing the opposition to make quick decisions on their power play. drr

“I think we just really focused on our structure, that we want to pressure up ice,” defenseman Moritz Seider said. “It started with faceoffs, and then where we put the puck after.

I want to see an improved Red Wings penalty kill structure this year.

None of this completely passive sit back and let them do whatever they want strategy.

Good teams apply pressure on the PK. Let’s see a competent set up, please.

— 𝐒𝐄𝐂𝐓𝐈𝐎𝐍 𝟑𝟒𝟒 𝐋𝐈𝐎𝐍𝐒 (@Section344Lions) October 9, 2025

“I think you saw we rimmed a lot more pucks, making it hard for them to even get set up in a breakout formation, and hopefully apply a little more pressure. And then we just had a good stance at the line where we’re really detailed with our stick. I think that definitely made a difference.”

McLellan sees a more confident bunch wearing the Winged Wheel when Detroit goes down a man.

“Our confidence goes a long way,” McLellan said. “It’s believing that we can get things done and some structure adjustments. It’s just some reads, and I think we’re able to stay on the fresh side, if you will, a lot more than the tired side. That’s made a difference.”

What the coach means is that by pressuring the puck, they’ve been able to get quick changes and keep fresh killers on the ice.

“The PK is probably not going to win you a game, but it can’t lose you the game,” forward JT Compher said. “Especially late in the game. Third-period kills keep two points alive and give us a chance to win.”