The one-goal losses are piling up on the Detroit Red Wings. They’ve dropped four straight games, all by a single goal, including two in overtime.
They are hoping to halt that agonizing trend when they host the Colorado Avalanche on Saturday.
Detroit didn’t even get a point in its latest defeat. The Red Wings allowed a last-minute goal in the third period of a 2-1 loss at Ottawa on Thursday.
“We outchanced them five-on-five, we spent a little too much time in the penalty box, but we give up two goals in 60 minutes on the road, you certainly hope to find a way to get a point out of it,” coach Derek Lalonde said. “It’s a little frustrating how it ended.”
Frustratingly close is how many of the Red Wings’ games have ended in recent weeks. Their last six losses have been decided by one goal.
Josh Norris, a Michigan native, scored both of the Senators’ goals on Thursday.
“That’s a tough one,” Detroit captain Dylan Larkin said. “I think we played well enough to get two points, and we got zero. With 40 seconds left, we just got to button things up and get it to overtime.”
The Red Wings are temporarily relying on Ville Husso as their goaltender, as injuries have sidelined Cam Talbot and Alex Lyon. Husso spent a portion of the season in the American Hockey League after a disastrous outing in Detroit’s season opener. Husso made 30 saves against Ottawa but needed one more to force overtime.
“We have to find it from within and show what we’re capable of,” Larkin said. “We have a tough matchup at home on Saturday, then we’re back on the road and then we’re at home (before) Christmas. It’s time to start playing some hockey and not just set the bar for an overtime loss or getting one point.”
The Avalanche haven’t fared much better over the last two weeks. They have lost three of their last four games and four of their last six.
Colorado fell to Carolina 5-3 on Thursday in Raleigh, N.C.
“We didn’t move the puck quick enough, didn’t handle their pressure well enough,” Avs coach Jared Bednar said.
It was essentially a one-goal game, as the Hurricanes scored an empty-netter in the closing seconds.
Goaltender Scott Wedgewood made his first start for the Avalanche after he was acquired from Nashville last weekend. He was credited with 30 saves.
“He gave us a chance,” Bednar said. “He made a lot of big saves, especially in (the) first period.”
Valeri Nichushkin scored two of Colorado’s goals. He has scored five since being activated in mid-November. Nichushkin was eligible to return after completing Stage 3 of the NHL/NHLPA Player Assistance Program, which included being suspended without pay for a minimum of six months.
“If you look at a guy like Val, he’s been consistently getting better since he’s been back in the lineup,” Bednar said. “And now he’s starting to produce.”
The matchup at Detroit is in the middle of a five-game road swing for Colorado.
–Field Level Media
