There isn’t much to write about after the Red Wings 7-1 loss. Any fan who watched the first eight minutes of the game don’t want to relive it much less read about it. So I’ll just put this up to provide the synopsis:
Rocco Grimaldi recorded his hat trick in 2:34. It is now the #Preds record for the fastest three goals by an individual in a game.
— Nashville Predators (@PredsNHL) March 26, 2021
Nashville's four goals in a 2:34 span is now the record for the fastest four goals in a game in team history.#MakeItCount | @JackDaniels_US pic.twitter.com/uhjBc4BDig
Not only do the Red Wings help rookies get their first NHL goal, now they’re helping guys set franchise records for hat tricks. Not only did Rocco Grimaldi get a hat trick, he added one later for good measure. He doubled his goal total for the season plus one–thanks to Detroit.
Bobby Ryan got Detroit on the board with a power play goal, and then inexplicably, Nashville scored again just twenty seconds later. Thankfully, that goal was waived off. But the Predators would add two more, and to spare you from any more grisly recaps, let’s just leave it there.
The Red Wings definitely needed this power-play goal from Bobby Ryan! #LGRW pic.twitter.com/z3tV0H9DJs
— Bally Sports Detroit (@BallySportsDET) March 26, 2021
Red Wings Struggled Early and it Snowballed
Dylan Larkin and Troy Stecher collided early in the game, and it seemed an ominous sign. Larkin went to the tunnel to be evaluated and no sooner did he return did Nashville score. And then again, and again and again. By the time Detroit finally netted one, the game was out of reach and out of hand. Thomas Greiss struggled again and pulled for Calvin Pickard, who almost immediately let in a goal.
It’s frightening to think what this team will look like when general manager Steve Yzerman begins selling pieces off soon. But it will hopefully force Jeff Blashill to play some players who have more offensive upside. In other news, Marc Staal left the game with an injury. Certainly not news they need when they’re trying to add pieces by selling current ones.
What now for the Red Wings?
Detroit welcomes Columbus to Little Caesars Arena for a weekend series on Saturday and Sunday. Both are late afternoon starts which means your evening won’t be ruined should the latest pattern of losses keep up.
Perhaps the toughest part of the game wasn’t even that they lost–it’s that they were completely out of the game within the first six minutes. For a proud organization, these types of losses have to be wearing on the players as they mount. Worse, Nashville, who isn’t really setting the world on fire, held control of the game from almost the beginning.
Here’s hoping the weekend will bring more competitive games.