Detroit Red Wings Blue Line Report for the Week of November 13, 2022
A winless week for the Red Wings (0-2-1) is not a good sign. A young team is going to be inconsistent and have high highs and low lows. The 8-2 loss to New York is terrible but more of a lesson to be learned than a bad omen—that is, if you relax for five minutes, then a 2-2 game can become a 7-2 game.
There is a more troubling long-term trend. The third pairing has been a major problem this year. Over the last two weeks, there is a trend that the ice time for Hägg, Lindstrom, and Oesterle has been creeping lower. For the Saturday night match-up with the Kings, the third pairing was on the ice for less than 13 minutes.
For a few games, this is no problem. But in an 82-game season, there is extra stress placed on the first two pairs. The third pairing requires a significant upgrade. This season, Walman, Pysyk, Sebrango, McIsaac, and Edvinsson all deserve serious looks.
A Look at the Detroit Red Wings’ Thirteenth Game of the Season: Montreal Canadiens
The last-minute goal in the first period hurt as the Red Wings were the better team throughout. Jake Allen was fantastic as the Canadiens killed off three penalties in the second period. The Detroit power play looked good and dangerous. Sometimes you get ‘goalied’ in the NHL. The team earned a win, but a shootout loss was the result.
Detroit Red Wings: Game Thirteen Individual Reports
Moritz Seider – Grade B+. He looked good and dangerous on the offensive end. Seider looks as if he is going to break out and return to being a dominating player, then regresses in the next game. This was a strong game with excellent defensive anticipation and fine work on the power play.
Ben Chiarot – Grade B+ . He was doing his thing and bullying the smaller Canadiens’ forwards.
Olli Määttä – Grade B-. Maatta relaxed on the second goal and allowed Hoffman a clear chance at the rebound. That goal was the end of the first period hurt the team and required them to play catch-up throughout.
Filip Hronek – Grade B-. He also gets some blame, as do all the players on the ice for Montreal’s second goal. The entire team played soft in the last forty seconds of the first period. Hronek was generally good with the puck again, but in the NHL, one play can cost the team a game.
Gustav Lindstrom – Grade C. I always like and appreciate his effort. But I am still awaiting Jake Walman’s return.
Jordan Oesterle – Grade C. His defensive zone coverage is good and consistent. His breakout passes, but not so much.
A Look at the Detroit Red Wings’ Fourteenth Game of the Season: New York Rangers
The first period was even. The Red Wings were tight and played well. The Red Wings often get trapped in their own end, and there are many failed breakout attempts, but wide-open forwards in dangerous places are rare.
Coaching and forward help has made the Red Wings a solid defensive team. The first goal was a blown coverage by Suter. The second period was mostly even, but the Rangers had the more dangerous chances. The first ten minutes of the third period were a mess on par with the recent Buffalo game. Five goals against in five minutes is a disaster. Good teams can strike fast if there is any letdown. An 8-2 game is a poor result. On to the west coast.
Detroit Red Wings: Game Fourteen Individual Reports
Moritz Seider – Grade C. Usually a great penalty killer but left Kreider open at the net front for an easy goal. The fourth goal was not a great one, as he did not cover up the crease neatly. Although he looked dangerous on the offensive end, there is that lack of engagement that he showed early games this season.
Ben Chiarot – Grade C. Not noticeable in this game. A tripping penalty in the second was a problem. But the penalty was killed.
Olli Määtä – Grade B. Assisted on the first goal with a solid breakout pass to Veleno, eventually leading to the Veleno goal. Maatta was his usual solid self throughout.
Filip Hronek – Grade B+. The Wings’ second goal was initiated by an excellent dump-in by Hronek. Shesterken had been intercepting the dump-ins and turning them into quick breakouts and transitions to offense. Hronek smartly changed the angle on the dump-in, and it led to Larkin’s play to Raymond for a good one-timer. Offensive plays start with smart plays from the defense, and this was one from Hronek.
Gustav Lindstrom – Grade C. Lindstrom is game, but he cannot get the puck out of his own end. Every time the third pairing is on, the Red Wings will spend most of the time in their own end and scrambling.
Robert Hägg – Grade C. Thankfully, Hagg’s defensive zone coverage is usually solid because he spent a lot of time trapped in his own zone.
A Look at the Detroit Red Wings’ Fifteenth Game of the Season: Los Angeles Kings
A west coast trip after a bad loss against a strong Ranger team is an excellent time to bond and reset. After giving up a goal in the first nine seconds, the team (except Dylan Larkin) did not look strong or engaged. Nedeljkovic was also not sharp. Playing from behind is not winning hockey. A positive third period is nice, but still, a loss to end the week is disappointing.
Detroit Red Wings: Game Fifteen Individual Reports
Moritz Seider – Grade C. I am convinced that Moritz Seider has a nagging shoulder injury. His skating looks outstanding, good positioning and solid decision-making, but he rarely initiates big hits and is not dominating along the boards. He looks to be hesitant, and being hesitant is not his game. He is still strong, and an excellent defenseman but does not take initiative and lead the team with big hits or powerful shots.
Ben Chiarot – Grade B-. Chiarot has taken a beating this year. Thankfully, he has given a lot of beatings, too. So many blocked shots and so many collisions take a toll. Chiarot is a great complementary defenseman when he is on his game. But he cannot be on all the time. When Chiarot flags, the whole team flags.
Next. Harsher suspensions will help eliminate dangerous hits. dark
Filip Hronek – Grade B+. As per usual with Hronek, there is good and bad. On the plus side, a goal and an assist, while doing a fine job leading the power play and being on the ice for over 27 minutes, is a strong game. But making a weak play that led to a goal 9 seconds into the game is a major problem. Overall, Hronek has played very well this year.
Olli Määttä – Grade B-. Not Määttä’s best game. A major addition to the team, his breakouts did not click at a high percentage. The second pairing needs to be far more efficient in getting out of their own zone.
Robert Hägg – Grade C. After a good start to the season, Hägg has regressed to being a weak third-pairing defenseman. Breakouts are especially challenging whether he is paired with Oesterle or Lindstrom.
Jordan Oesterle – Grade C. Another weak game for Oesterle and the third pairing.