It was Darren Helm‘s return to Hockeytown in the Detroit Red Wings’ 5-2 Loss to Colorado Wednesday night. The Red Wings took a bit to wake up after falling into an early 2-0 hole and although they weren’t able to get back into the game, they did have some good moments. Here are 8 observations:
1: The Red Wings won in the faceoff circle 57% – 43%, and also outshot the Avs 34-31. Not bad against the league’s most fearsome offense. Sure they were missing star Nathan MacKinnon, but it’s the little things they can build on for later.
2: Dylan Larkin had his 200th and 201st career assists in the loss. Going back to doublecheck the numbers, it’s incredible to think that this is already Larkin’s seventh NHL season. When he broke into the league, it felt like a revelation that a teenager was a Red Wing rookie. With Moritz Seider and Lucas Raymond making their mark this season, it’s certainly the dawn of a new era.
3: Speaking of Seider, the two assists he had gives him eight points in five games. The first one was a heads up play by the 20-year-old that potted a goal for Filip Zadina and the second was a quick pass to set up Robby Fabbri’s power play goal. Say what you will about Trevor Zegras, but the Calder Award debate will rage on until the conclusion of the season.
4: Zadina’s broad smile following his seventh goal of the season said more than any interview or write up could. This hopefully keeps his confidence going.
5: Danny DeKeyser was shifted off the pairing with Seider and onto one with Gustav Lindstrom. From the Athletic’s Max Bultman:
Red Wings have moved DeKeyser off of Seider’s pair. Seider with Leddy, DeKeyser with Lindstrom. DeKeyser was on the ice for both goals against in the first
— Max Bultman (@m_bultman) February 24, 2022
Take that as you wish.
6: It seemed like an eternity since Detroit last played but outside of a sluggish first period, they continued their trend of playing strong against a far superior opponent. Echoing an early observation, it’s good to see Detroit hang in games they would have otherwise been blown out of in the past two seasons.
7: The Red Wings are back at .500. When’s the last time we’ve been able to say that this late in February?
8: It’s going to be an interesting three weeks as the Red Wings and the rest of the league ready for the trade deadline. They won’t be buyers, but it will be more interesting to see what moves Yzerman makes–if any at all. Games like this reveal there’s still some way to go, but there’s certainly marked improvement from what once was a very long road ahead.