That the Detroit Red Wings need help is evident, but even amidst an 0-2 start to the season, there are signs of growth.
Take both games so far: The Wings fell behind both outings in the first periods, both times it looked like it could have turned ugly, both times the Wings battled back to give themselves a chance till the end.
"The guys on the bench are pissed when we're down and they're not happy," coach Todd McLellan said, "but no one's digging graves. They're trying to dig themselves out and I didn't think the effort or anything sagged. We, in fact, we pushed a little bit. You could feel the building get some energy and that certainly helped us – we're appreciative for that."
The Wings
had just come up short, 3-2, against the Winnipeg Jets in a matinee on Sunday, Oct, 4, two days after coming up short, 2-0, to the New York Rangers in the season opener (it was 1-0 until 1:16 to play).
What would really helpis if Dylan Larkin is available when next the Wings play on Tuesday against the Ottawa Senators, after being sidelined by an upper-body injury since the start of camp. The experiment of having Andrew Copp as the top-line center between Alex DeBrincat and Lucas Raymond lasted five periods, as the group's ineffectiveness prompted McLellan to tinker with lines Sunday, especially since only 11 forwards dressed.
The Wings were on a power play when they celebrated their first goal of the season, late in the second period courtesy of a Viktor Arvidsson deflection, and at even strength when Emmitt Finnie and Michael Brandsegg-Nygard teamed up for the second goal early in the third period, with another net-front goal.
"I think we want the right thing and I think we're playing a good game and just trying to connect more and the chances that we have, just trying to get in the back of the net," Brandsegg-Nygard, whose hard work behind the net set up Finnie, said.
Both goals rewarded the hard work the Wings put in during practice the day before, when they focused on being harder around the crease. It's also a positive that through six periods, they haven't given up any goals 5-on-5. But penalties have been the problem in the first two performances, playing a key role in why the Wings lose. The Rangers' first goal came during a power play, and all three of the Jets' goals did, too. The first two goals happened while Wings players were serving penalties for unsportsmanlike conduct, the second of which was assessed to J.T. Compher for abuse of officials.
"The penalty kill failed us," McLellan said. "Unsportsmanlike conduct, right after we get scored on – bang, they're up 2-0. We can't have that. Pretty simple. But the penalty kill let us down. First one was a lucky one. Second one was a penalty that we didn't need to take. Third one was off a rebound. So we'll keep working on that, try and fix it."
Unlike the season opener, when the Wings managed just two shots on the net in the third period, they had nine Sunday, part of a 35-27 edge in shots overall.
"I thought we showed some fight there in the third period," Finnie said. "Special teams weren't good enough. You're not going to win games when you give them three on the power play there. So, got to clean that up."
Finnie and Brandsegg-Nygard were among the best forwards on the ice, hustling to create offensive-zone time. McLellan raved about Brandsegg-Nygard in particular, describing him as "fantastic. He's a bully, which is great. He isn't afraid to shoot it, he sticks his nose in. Really looks like he's enjoying playing the game. Fantastic."
Playing with the two youngsters certainly appealed to DeBrincat when that change was made late in the game.
"Finnie's got a lot of speed and Brands is strong on his stick," DeBrincat said. "Playing with those two, we go in the entry with a lot of speed. They're both going to battle and get it back. I think we can do a lot better in the neutral zone and controlling the puck. I think we've still got to be more crisp there. But playing with those two, it creates a lot, you know, just by pushing the deep back because they're so fast."
Getting Larkin healthy and getting Simon Edvinsson signed and back in the fold would be a huge boost for the Wings. Until then, it's on the players who dress to bear down and player smarter.
"I think we know what we can do," DeBrincat said. "I feel like maybe we deserve better in these games, and a couple more bounces can go our way. But we've got to work for it. It's not just going to come to us. We're not skilled enough to go out there and expect to score six goals."
Contact Helene St. James at Hstjames@freepress.com.
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Next up: Senators
Matchup: Red Wings (0-2-0; 0 points) vs. Ottawa (1-0-0; 2 points, entering Monday).
Faceoff: 7 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 6; Little Caesars Arena, Detroit.
TV/radio: Detroit SportsNet; WXYT-FM (97.1).
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: 'No one is digging graves' as Detroit Red Wings start season 0-2
