The Daily: New Year, New Era for Red Wings?; Kane’s Son Pushes Him on 500

A new year will be upon us at midnight tonight, and the Detroit Red Wings are hoping it will symbolically mark the beginning of a new era of successful hockey.

After nine years of missing the playoffs, the Red Wings find themselves in first place in the Atlantic Division with the fifth-best record (by points) in the NHL. If they beat the Winnipeg Jets tonight at Little Caesars Arena (7 p.m.), they will be on a pace for their first 100-point season since 2014-15.

The Red Wings (23-14-3) have 49 points in 40 games. A win would give them 51 points at the halfway point of their season.

Detroit was sixth in the division before December started. A 10-3-1 record in the month helped the Red Wings rise to first place. In a competitive race, they’ve been at the top, or near it, for a long while.

Here’s what is helping the Red Wings this season:

• 13-2-3 in one-goal games.
• Five third-period comebacks. Only Seattle and Vegas have more with six each.
• 11 comeback wins this season, tying Anaheim for the second-most. Philadelphia has 13.

“We’ve definitely earned some of the confidence just with the way we play,” Detroit forward James van Riemsdyk said. “But it’s always about the next game, especially with how tight the standings are.”

Red Wings In Case You Missed It

GM Steve Yzerman sends John Leonard back to the Grand Rapids Griffins.

Injured James van Riemsdyk should be ready to play against the Winnipeg Jets.

Canada’s brass finally adds Carter Bear to its WJC roster. He made his debut against Denmark.

Red Wings Extra

Patrick Kane scored his 498th goal on Dec. 13 and immediately sat out six games because of injury. He’s back now, but his five-year-old son isn’t pleased that the chase for 500 is taking so long.

“Oh, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah,” Kane said. “He gets mad at me now when we play and I don’t score and I’m stuck… He always tells me before the game go get whatever the next one is. He’s staying on top of it. He’s into that stuff. He just turned 5, so he’s at a pretty good age now where he’s loving numbers and stats and players on the team and, the way everyone tapes their stick, all that type of stuff, their numbers, things like that. It’s a fun age for sure.”

Hockey Now Network

Boston: Jack Studley explores which Bruins might be moved before the NHL trade deadline. Boston Bruins.

New Jersey: Coach Sheldon Keefe had some pointed words at his players for their perceived lack of fortitude. He had another phrase for it. New Jersey Devils. 

Pittsburgh: Dan Kingerski writes about the Penguins’ “tactical masterpiece” in beating Carolina. Pittsburgh Penguins.