Red Wings Losing Streak Hits Eight After 3-1 Loss to Tampa Bay

The Detroit Red Wings played a much stronger game, but it still yielded a similar result. For the second consecutive season, the Red Wings lost their eighth straight game, falling to Tampa 3-1. The Red Wings are 2-8-2 on the season and the path doesn’t get any easier as they take on the Panthers Sunday.

Filip Zadina was impactful in his first game back, notching an assist on the Vladislav Namestnikov goal.

It’s amazing just how much Zadina was missed—which is a positive when you see that the guy they hoped they were getting in 2018 is becoming the impact player they envisioned. The goals will come.

A few thoughts

• • At what point does the coaching staff and front office see that Frans Nielsen is now the Justin Abdelkader for this season. For what he’s being paid and what his contributions are, it’s just not feasible anymore. I understand that he’s wearing the “A.” I get that there is a respect you have to honor with veterans because other potential free agents down the road are watching how you treat players. But this madness has to end. There is no reason for him to be out there at this point while Taro Hirose is rotting in the taxi squad. Play the best players. Period.
  • Adam Erne is skating into similar territory here, except for the bloated salary category. This trade looks like another that just didn’t hit and that’s fine. Just correct the mistake and rotate in someone who’s going to make an impact on the ice. Erne, at least, generated a few chances on his own.
  • Poor Thomas Greiss. He couldn’t track the game winning goal because he was screened so he goes down in defeat again in spite of having another stellar game. He’s got to be wondering what else he has to do in order to get a win.

I know it’s a rebuild. I believe in the Yzerplan. But man, losing blows. At some point, the coaching staff has to wake up and start playing the players who can inject some energy because this just isn’t getting it done.