Ugly Win Better Than Alternative For Struggling Red Wings

The Detroit Red Wings emphasize that even a win that may be considered ugly or grotesque is preferable to the alternative. Their 7-6 shootout triumph against the Philadelphia Flyers on Friday falls into that category.

Despite initially securing a 5-1 lead in the first period, the Red Wings found themselves trailing 6-5 with five minutes remaining in regulation. However, they managed to level the score with a goal from captain Dylan Larkin and secured the victory through shootout goals from Lucas Raymond and Patrick Kane. This win was a welcome relief for a team that hadn’t held a lead or won in the past four games, boasting a 1-6-1 record in the last eight outings.

While the accomplishment of scoring five goals in the first period was acknowledged as a positive development by Detroit coach Derek Lalonde, he and the players acknowledge ongoing issues that need resolution. Despite the significant lead, this was the second instance in 15 days that Detroit allowed a four-goal advantage to slip away, with the previous incident resulting in an overtime loss to the San Jose Sharks.

Lalonde stressed the importance of managing the game effectively, especially given their current challenges, including injuries to key players, a congested December schedule with 15 games, and goaltending concerns. Goaltender James Reimer received unexpected praise from Lalonde, who defended him despite some suspect goals, highlighting the competitive spirit he demonstrated in securing the shootout win.

However, the coach’s assessment of the goaltending situation contrasts with prevailing concerns about the consistency of Reimer and the absence of injured goalies Ville Huso and Alex Lyon. With Huso listed as week-to-week and Lyon out until after the holidays, the Red Wings find themselves relying on Reimer and journeyman Michael Hutchinson for goaltending duties.

In the end, Lalonde acknowledged the importance of securing points and the relief of getting a win but also alluded to the persistent challenges the team faces. The analogy of putting earrings and makeup on a pig is used to emphasize that, despite the positive outcome, underlying issues and concerns still exist.