The Detroit Red Wings are hoping their 5-4 win over Boston is the start of a new streak. Still, Detroit will play six games in 10 days spread out over three time zones. The schedule is unrelenting, however the team knows what is at stake. A recent four game slide needs to be remedied, therefore every game is a big game.
With 27 games played, the Red Wings are 14-11-2 right now. Conversely, the team was 10-11-6 through 27 last year. Therein, Detroit has four more wins and four more points than last year’s start. The Wings have seen some improvement, however the recent slide has taken its toll.
In the past 8 games, the penalty kill slid from 81.5% (12th) to 79.5% (23rd). However the power play has improved from 21.9% (11th) from 20.6% (15th). Unfortunately, the team’s goal differential is -12 as goals against continue to plague Detroit. The team will need to be much better defensively for 60 minutes if they hope to have a successful trip.
Grand Rapids Griffins are still rolling
In contrast to Detroit, the Red Wings AHL team is making franchise history right now. The Grand Rapids Griffins are 17-1-0-1 through their first 19 games of the season. Consequently, the Griffins are at the top of the standings both their league and their division in points. The team has just one regulation loss amidst this historic franchise start.
Therefore, as injuries mount for the Red Wings, interesting options are available for call ups. Veteran John Leonard has in incredible 17 goals in 16 games played in the AHL. However, rookie Michael Brandsegg-Nygard has started to breakout. MBN now has 13 points (4G, 9A) in 14 games played. After a slow start, MBN has started to click with four multi point games in his past five appearances.
Niklas Kronwall to the IIHF hall of fame
Finally, Red Wings alum Niklas Kronwall has been accepted into the IIHF hall of fame. Kronwall will be inducted alongside Patrice Bergeron in the 2026 class. Both players are part of the “triple gold” club, having won Olympic gold, a world tournament as well as a Stanley Cup.
“Kronwall won Gold in both the Olympics and World Championship in the same year – 2006, when he was 25. It took two more years for him to earn a Stanley Cup, as part of a 2008 Detroit Red Wings club that was laden with Hall-of-Fame talent. Both Bergeron and Kronwall were revered NHL skaters – with Bergeron reaching the pinnacle for defensive-forwards while Kronwall was known as one of the hardest-hitting defenders of the 2000’s.”
Therefore, congratulations to Niklas Kronwall as well as the other inductees. Former Red Wing Thomas Vanek is also amongst the inductees in this class. Vanek played 112 games for Detroit over two separate stints with the team.
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