The Detroit Red Wings are gearing up for a home-and-home against the Washington Capitals. And if they want to beat Washington, better play in front of the net is a requirement. It's non-negotiable, and head coach Todd McLellan knows it.
McLellan recently spoke on the Wings' subpar play in front of the net, and I took a deep dive into why the Wings can't fix a problem that has been ongoing for over a month. Washington is a top-three team in the Metropolitan Division, and outplaying them in every facet of the game, including in front of the net, will make Detroit's job a lot easier.
Red Wings in the sweepstakes for another blueliner?
On Thursday, Drew Dykowski wrote about how one defenseman linked to the Red Wings would be an excellent add if they traded for him. Connor Murphy may not be Quinn Hughes, but he's a defense-first player who would complement two-way players like Moritz Seider, Axel Sandin-Pellikka, and Simon Edvinsson. With the holiday roster freeze, don't expect a trade just yet, but it's something to keep an eye on later this season.
Plus, at this point, anyone would be an upgrade over Travis Hamonic. Hamonic has played so poorly this season, Bob Heyrman listed him as the next player the Wings will put on waivers. Should that occur, and if the Chicago Blackhawks end up throwing in the towel and start dishing off their veterans, the Wings could get Murphy for a cheap price while discarding Hamonic.
Speaking of players put on waivers, Heyrman also wrote up an excellent deep dive on Jonatan Berggren, and outlined his less-than-stellar tenure in Detroit. Berggren shouldn't feel too badly about the situation. He scored in the St. Louis Blues' Thursday night loss to the New York Rangers, collecting 17:04 of ice time.
Atlantic Division race is tightening and the Red Wings can't afford many mistakes
Heading into Friday, the Red Wings still lead the Atlantic Division, but just seven points separate them from the last-place Buffalo Sabres, who won their fourth straight game on Thursday. And this race will most likely get even tighter.
The Sabres are rejuvenated with new general manager Jarmo Kekalainen at the helm, replacing Kevyn Adams. Meanwhile, it's tough to count out the Toronto Maple Leafs and Florida Panthers, who have 35 and 38 points, respectively. Ditto for the Tampa Bay Lightning, who have 39 points and are fourth in the division.
The Boston Bruins and Montreal Canadiens are currently the biggest threats to the Wings, as they both clock in with 40 points. The Ottawa Senators have also been finding their groove, and are three points behind the Wings with 38. Translation: Detroit has no choice but to kick it into high gear in this upcoming home-and-home against Washington if they're interested in maintaining their lead.