Red Wings Need a Confident Kasper Down the Stretch

DETROIT — Marco Kasper scored twice on Halloween Eve against the Los Angeles Kings and Detroit Red Wings hoped that might give him a booster shot of confidence.

That was 37 games ago.

Kasper scored his first goal, an empty netter, in almost 11 weeks and set up up J. T Compher for a goal with a skillful assist. He finished with five shots on goal and he was everywhere all at once in Detroit’s 4-2 win against the San Jose Sharks. Again, the Red Wings hope Kasper can build on this, to play like he did last season when he turned a strong second half into a 19-goal NHL rookie season.

“Most importantly for Marco… I know his game has been coming, maybe not on the score sheet regularly, but his physicality, his tenacity, his skating. He looks like a different player right now,” Coach Todd McLellan said. “I don’t know if he hit rock bottom and built himself back up, but he’s done a real good job. ”

Kasper’s Drought

Even with only six points in his first 47 games this season,  the Red Wings still believe he was contributing. He leads the team with 107 hits, and you can see every game that he’s involved. That’s why he hasn’t been sent the American League.

Lucas Raymond could have fired the puck toward the net himself when the goal was empty, but he chose to use one of his three assists  to set-up Kasper for a goal. Raymond knew Kasper needed one.

“When your teammates are still rooting for you, that’s important,” McLellan said. “And the guys are pulling for him on the bench. They have his back. They know he’s an important piece on the team. And, tonight he got rewarded with some points and a goal. But his overall game was impressive.”

Raymond understands what’s going on with Kasper. That’s why he thinks these two points could be “huge.”

“It’s his second year — it could be a tricky one,” Raymond said. “I think the way he’s working, you see it in games, and practices as well, before or after, it pays off. You just got to be patient and that confidence back.”

Sophomore Slump

Raymond says he doesn’t know why athletes sometimes experience a sophomore slump.

“I wish I knew,” Raymond said. “I think the first year, you come in, everything’s new. You’re kind of riding that high. And excitement of going into every building is a new building for you to come in. And, you’re playing against a lot of your childhood idols. You know, in the second year, expectations become different. So, you know, it’s tricky, but like I said, it’s about doing the right things. And, you know, everyone’s not always going to score. We need guys to contribute in a lot of different ways. And he plays hard.”

Kasper said he’s just tried to stay positive and contribute in other way.

“He doesn’t get too high or too low, but he’s a proud individual,” McLellan said. “And I think some of it is held inside. We’ve had some good talks, and sometimes it’s held inside. He doesn’t want to let his guard down or let anybody see him. But I know it’s been heavy on him. I give him all of the credit in the world for continuing to try work through it. Maybe he’s starting to break through.”