Detroit Red Wings
Red Wings Ready to Write Road Test
Detroit plays seven of the next eight games away from home
It’s been a while since the Detroit Red Wings were in the playoffs, so perhaps they aren’t familiar with the old saying that it isn’t a series until the away team wins a game.
Passing the road test is equally important during the regular season. Teams that can’t win on the road generally don’t earn their way into the postseason. Eleven of the 16 playoff participants last season were posting winning records away from home.
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The Red Wings were 17-19-5 away from home during the 2024-25 season. Only one of the 16 playoff teams won fewer games on the road than Detroit.
“Very important to be a good road team,” Detroit captain Dylan Larkin said. “I really believe that once Todd got here last year, we started to play better on the road.”
He’s right about that.
Under Todd McLellan, the Red Wings have been an improved team. They were 6-8-2 away from home when McLellan was named coach on December 26. They went 11-11-3 on the road the rest of the way. Factor in a win at Toronto in their only road appearance so far this season, and the Wings are a winning road team under McLellan.
Red Wings Coach Excited For Next Exam
The NHL season is an ongoing test of mettle. Sitting atop the Atlantic Division at 5-1 and riding a five-game win streak, the Wings are so far earning a passing grade. But another big test awaits them.
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— NHL (@NHL) October 19, 2025
This week features both the team’s first multi-game road trip as well as the club’s initial session of back-to-back games.
Detroit is in Buffalo on Wednesday and at the New York Islanders on Thursday. Overall, the Wings play seven of the next eight games away from Little Caesars Arena.
A five-game trip begins October 28 at St. Louis. Then it swings far west, with games at LA, Anaheim, San Jose, and Vegas.
“Big trip,” Larkin said.
“Yes, it’ll be another test,” McLellan added. “Looking forward to seeing us play our first back-to-back as well.”
The journey should provide more intel on exactly how far the Wings have advanced as a team.
“It’s important to be really dialed in on these road trips,” Larkin said.
If his club packs the same caliber of play for the road trip that they’ve been delivering on home ice, then they’ll be just fine.
“If we’re able to take our game, it’ll give us a chance on the road, McLellan said. “Obviously, we don’t get matchups. There’s things that don’t go your way. But if we can bottle up and take our game on the road, we’ll give ourselves a chance.
“If we want to play something different on the road and we’ve got to figure that part out, it won’t be so good.”
