The Red Wings’ four-game road trip got off to a rocky start, followed by two exhilarating victories. Detroit will return to home ice on Thursday when it hosts the Colorado Avalanche.
Detroit was outscored 12-5 in losses to Edmonton and Vancouver. The Red Wings then shut out Calgary 5-0 on Saturday afternoon and pulled out a 4-3 overtime win at Seattle on Monday.
“Obviously, to lose the first two and fight back, great job on the guys,” Detroit coach Derek Lalonde said. “Two quality road wins vs. two quality teams fighting for their playoff lives. It’s a positive on the guys.”
Defenseman Ben Chiarot scored the game-winner against the Kraken as the Red Wings maintained their grip on an Eastern Conference wild-card spot.
“This is what you play for,” Chiarot said. “This is why (general manager) Steve (Yzerman) brought in older guys, veteran guys. Just for this time of year, to be contributing and pulling the rope at the front of the line. Getting the job done when it needs to be done and helping push this team toward a playoff push.”
The Red Wings also got strong goaltending in the past two games. In Calgary, James Reimer made 38 saves to record the shutout in his first start since Jan. 14. Alex Lyon bounced back from two subpar performances to stop 38 Kraken shots.
“The way those first two games shook out and then to come back with two gutsy wins is awesome,” Lyon said. “We can’t get emotionally too high right now because we still have so much hockey left to go and so many critical points. We’re going to enjoy this for a hot second, then move on and emotionally get ready for the next one.”
The game against the Avalanche begins a stretch in which Detroit plays five of six at home. It needs to take advantage of it, since it then plays 10 of its following 14 contests on the road.
Colorado will also be seeking its third straight victory. The Avalanche defeated Arizona 4-3 on Sunday and Vancouver 3-1 on Tuesday.
Nathan MacKinnon recorded an assist against the Canucks to increase his season point total to 92 (33 goals, 59 assists).
Ryan Johansen was the offensive star against Vancouver, notching two goals. He hadn’t scored since Dec. 29.
“It feels great,” Johansen said. “It’s funny because you go through periods and moments and times in your career, and I’ve been through these before. Then like (Tuesday), it’s off the backboards and a bounce to an empty net, and then it’s a shot to the net that’s off a guy’s hip and in. You kind of just laugh, and it just kind of reminds you, I guess, you’ve just got to stick with it and keep going.”
The Canucks lead the Western Conference in points with 80. By knocking them off, Colorado moved within two points of Dallas for first place in the Central Division.
“That was a good hockey game. It was intense, and both teams were disciplined. It was hard fought,” Avalanche coach Jared Bednar said. “When you’re playing a really good team like that and both teams are dialed in, it’s going to be a battle. And that’s what it was.”
Colorado’s last two victories came at home. It has gone 1-4-1 in its past six road games.
–Field Level Media
