You can't expect to earn a trip to the playoffs by scoring a goal every other game. That's the trajectory the Detroit Red Wings find themselves on following an embarrassing 4-1 loss to the New York Rangers. The Blueshirts might be the ultimate road warriors, but the Wings needed to bounce back from their shutout loss to the Vegas Golden Knights with a sense of urgency.
Instead, they skated in front of their home crowd and showed no bite following a first period when they outshot the Rangers 13 to seven. The Wings had a chance to tie and maybe even ultimately pull ahead following the second frame when they were down just 2-1 if they skated into and got the sticks rolling in the third period, but goals from Artemi Panarin and Alexis Lafreniere 58 seconds apart at 7:29 and 8:27 in that frame sealed the deal.
The Wings were hoping to get a spark from the returning Patrick Kane, who skated 17:41 and took the ice for 20 shifts. Kane couldn't log a point or give the Wings that spark, but he still got six shots on net, all but proving he's picking up where he left off. So if there was one bright spot on Friday night, you can point to Kane.
One thing is becoming crystal clear for the Red Wings
The tandem of John Gibson and Cam Talbot isn't taking this team anywhere. Detroit better hope Sebastian Cossa keeps playing like a future number-one goaltender in Grand Rapids, because right now, he's the Wings' best long-term option in the crease. The faster Cossa shows he can translate his game from the AHL to the big club, the better things will be for the Wings.
Talbot came into this game rocking just a 0.897 save percentage, a 2.76 GAA, and a 0.667 save percentage. But he managed 22 saves on just 26 shot attempts. It's clear Talbot is going to have an up-and-down year, and, ideally, the fewer games he plays, the better off he will be.
If Gibson, who's sporting a 0.890 save percentage, a 3.03 GAA, and a 0.500 quality starts percentage, can get more consistent as November rolls on, then Talbot can take a permanent back seat here. But even if that were to happen, everyone will be pointing at Cossa, a youngster who could spend a decade manning the Wings' net, and clamoring for him to give the big club some stability in the net.
Speaking of Red Wings goaltenders...
Remember Jan Bednar, drafted in the fourth round of the 2020 NHL Draft? He recently made a return to Europe, where he is playing in Finland's top hockey league, Liiga. And so far, Bednar is looking good, with a 0.935 save percentage, a shutout, and a 1.81 GAA.
Bednar also explained why he wanted to go back to Europe. Speaking with Hockej.cz, he said, "I needed a change, a new impulse. I had been stagnant (in North America) for the last two years.
“My agent and I decided that returning to Europe was the best option for me at the moment.”
With the way he has been playing in Finland, there's a 100 percent chance Bednar is catching the eyes of some NHL front offices. If he keeps playing stellar hockey over in Liiga, it won't be long until you see him back in North America.