Red Wings were not ready to play
The Red Wings need a strong start to the season, but game one was not it. Dylan Larkin scored early, but the Canadiens answered with three goals in short order. The Habs were faster, hungrier and frankly better than Detroit in this one.
Detroit wasn’t ready to play, and a very young roster learned some tough lessons. There are a lot of factors at play, however it isn’t a great idea to make excuses. This should serve as a wake up call for the entire team right now.
John Gibson had a terrible night
There is plenty of blame to go around, but John Gibson’s performance can’t be ignored. The newly acquired goalie allowed five goals on just 13 shots. There were defensive lapses, but the team needed a couple of key saves.
Gibson, by no means, shoulders the loss alone. However, an outstanding performance in net for Montreal was a stark contrast. Detroit needs a lot more in net to be able to be competitive this season.
Detroit needs to find a way to win early
This opening stretch of games is going to be a big test for the Red Wings. The team needs to find a way to compete against some of the best players in the NHL. The young players know that the possibility of a trip to the AHL is a lingering reality.
That said, this was still just one game, albeit a really bad one. The team is still adjusting, and this will provide an opportunity for them to grow. Coach McLellan has one full practice to address the team before they face Toronto, and they need it to be a good one.
The Atlantic Division looks to be the most difficult in the NHL right now. Detroit has to move past this, and in quick fashion. The team should be ready when they face Toronto, and put up a much stronger defensive performance.
Gibson is not the answer in net! I did not like this trade from the start. But, the lack of a better defense in front of him is also the big and constant worry, as it has not been addressed properly in 3 years now!