The Detroit Red Wings continue to struggle as the NHL season winds down. After a 5-1 loss to the Pittsburgh Penguins at PPG Paints Arena on Tuesday, coach Todd McLellan gave a blunt assessment of his team’s performance.
“We’ll write our own story,” McLellan said, according to NHL.com. “There’s teams that are elevating right now and there’s teams that aren’t, and right now, we’re one of them that aren’t.” The coach acknowledged that the team’s drive and consistency have been lacking, leaving the Red Wings short in critical moments.
The Penguins, boosted by a goal and an assist from Egor Chinakhov, remain strong in the Metropolitan Division, winning three of their last four games. Detroit, meanwhile, has lost four of five, falling behind in the playoff race with just a handful of games remaining.
Red Wings’ struggles highlighted by early goals
Pittsburgh opened the scoring quickly, with Rickard Rakell netting his 20th goal of the season on the Penguins’ first shot. Anthony Mantha followed with his 30th goal of the year, and Chinakhov added a third before the end of the first period. Detroit’s John Gibson was pulled for the second straight game after allowing three goals on 14 shots, with Cam Talbot finishing in relief.
Dylan Larkin #71 of the Detroit Red Wings celebrates with Lucas Raymond #23 after scoring a goal. Jaime Crawford/Getty Images
Detroit’s competitive lapses are part of a broader trend this season, with the team missing the playoffs for nine straight years. McLellan noted, “Some of it’s technique and skill too. But the will and the drive is something we could use a little bit more of right now.”
Silver linings amid defeat
Despite the loss, Dylan Larkin scored his 30th goal of the season, continuing a streak of five consecutive 30-goal seasons. Meanwhile, the Penguins adjusted without injured Bryan Rust, and Evgeni Malkin returned with an assist and five shots on goal.
SurveyWhat should the Red Wings focus on to turn things around?
What should the Red Wings focus on to turn things around?
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With the Red Wings’ playoff hopes hanging by a thread, McLellan and his team must elevate both effort and execution if they hope to challenge the Eastern Conference wild-card spots in the final games of the season.
