Detroit Red Wings will use meltdown in Chicago as a learning experience

We need not overreact just four games into the season, whether it is a positive or negative reaction. After the first three games, Detroit Red Wings fans were very optimistic about the state of the franchise. Some fans quickly pumped the brakes on those positive impulses following Friday night’s third-period meltdown and eventual loss to the Chicago Blackhawks in overtime.

The Detroit Red Wings have begun the year with a bang earning points in each of their first four games. Heading into Sunday’s tilt with the Anaheim Ducks, Detroit sits with a record of 2-0-2.

Closing out hockey games is tough, and for a young team like Detroit, something that will come in time. Detroit had a two-goal lead Friday heading into the third period and squandered it, giving up a short-handed goal and eventually losing the game in overtime after a Lucas Raymond turnover. Max Domi snatched the puck from Raymond and beat Alex Nedeljkovic with a snapshot.

Friday’s third-period meltdown will be a learning experience for the Red Wings, and if you heard the tone of captain Dylan Larkin’s voice following the game, you would believe this team will learn from the loss.

The Detroit Red Wings will use their third-period meltdown in Chicago as a learning experience.

Following the loss, Larkin had this to say about how he felt.

"“It doesn’t feel good right now,” Larkin said. “We let our foot off the gas, they came out to play in the third (period) and we didn’t. We didn’t get the extra point and it doesn’t feel good.”"

Ironically, the Detroit Red Wings earned an extra point the game prior at home against the Los Angeles Kings. Late in the contest, Detroit trailing by a goal, saw a marvelous effort from Dylan Larkin on a backcheck with the Red Wing goal empty.

The effort prevented a goal that would have sealed a regulation victory for the Kings. Oskar Sundqvist would score a goal to force overtime. Detroit would eventually lose the game but stole a point. The reverse happened Friday night in Chicago for the Red Wings. They had no business losing that hockey game but did, and they will learn from it.

"“It is a learning and growing thing,” coach Derek Lalonde said. “The egregious mistakes that ended up in the back of our net were direct results from our young guys, and the reality is they have to go through those things to learn from them and improve on them.“And they will.”“It’s still growth there,” Lalonde said. “It’s one of many things we’re going to talk to him about, details in his game. In today’s NHL, you have to develop guys on the fly, and that’s what we’ll do with him. He’ll go right back there, and he’ll get plenty of opportunity on Sunday, and he’ll get better from this.”"

This season just has a different feel to it, with head coach Derek Lalonde at the helm. Lalonde appears to be even-keeled and understands the overall task at hand.