Red Wings Give Lyon A Chance With The Aid Of Sharper D Coverage…
Alex Lyon was selected by Detroit Red Wings coach Derek Lalonde to start Friday’s home game against the Nashville Predators—not necessarily as the game’s hero.
Lalonde wants to dispel the myth that the team’s goaltending is to blame for their 2-8-1 slump, which includes a 4.36 goals-against average.
Lalonde stated, “This has not been on our goalies.” “James Reimer (against Minnesota) got us to 2-2 in the third. The other night, even (Michael Hutchinson) gave us a 2-1 lead in the third. The fact that they are the same terrible errors is really annoying.
The defensive coverage of the Red Wings has been erratic to downright embarrassing. The Red Wings lost 6-3 to the Wild because they gave up far too many good scoring opportunities.
“We may have out-chanced them, but they nearly won 2-1 thanks to the Grade As’ breakaways, two-on-ones, and self-inflicted plays. Tough on our goalie, obviously,” Lalonde remarked.
Edvinsson Sent Down
Lalonde put his team through a hard practice with the hope of cleaning up their defensive coverage. Injured defenseman Jeff Petry and Olli Maatta will be available to play tomorrow. Simon Edvinsson has been sent back to the Grand Rapids Griffins after two games with the Red Wings. Injured forward Joe Veleno couldn’t finish Thursday’s practice and won’t play against Nashville.
While the Red Wings may be sharing the blame for the bloated goals-against total, they are nonetheless happy to have Lyon healthy again. Detroit’s team save percentage is .899, but Lyon’s save percentage is .932 in seven appearances. He boasts a save percentage above .900 in four of his last five starts. His GAA is 2.14 for the season. That’s far different than the team GAA of 4.36 over the past 11 games.
Red Wings Need Urgency
Without a doubt, the Red Wings are discussing the urgency of getting back into a postseason position. They are currently three points out of an Eastern Conference wild card as of this morning. Detroit has three games remaining before the Washington Capitals, who occupy the final spot, play them.
“Urgency’s a weird thing, desperation’s a weird thing,” Lyon said. “It’s one of those things that’s almost an acquired skill. I think every team has to find that identity throughout the year of what motivates us. I think everybody kind of goes through that, whether you’re the reigning Stanley Cup champion, or last in the standings. I think we’re just trying to kind of work our way through that right now.
But Lyon, who helped Florida land the last postseason spot in the East last season, doesn’t feel like he’s under any added pressure.
Lyon remarked, “You can’t think like that.” It’s not a constructive way of thinking. It’s similar to golf in that things get worse the harder you try. You have it in your hands. That sweet spot is where you work extremely hard and have a sense of the bigger picture while also having faith in yourself. the feelings and other such things. With practice, you become more proficient at it. Clearly, nothing is ever simple. You’re going to take a kick in the face if you approach a game or circumstance with the expectation that it will be straightforward and easy. You must enter fully prepared, possess a killer mentality, and persevere.
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Detroit Red Wings giving Jonatan Berggren another shot amid injury trouble…
This holiday break has been much needed by the Detroit Red Wings. It’s possible that their break from the ice was too long for them to regroup. They’re beginning to pick up the pieces again after going on quite the skid. However, Detroit needs to debut in 2024 with a run of winning streaks.
One of the problems at the moment is dealing with injury issues and regaining scoring and reliable play from the forward core. They are in a hurry to find replacements because of the injury problem. A well-known player who has been fighting for playing time with the Detroit Red Wings, Jonatan Berggren, is one of the reinforcements.
He was quickly sent back to Grand Rapids, so his recent stint with Detroit almost ended before it started. The Red Wings forward was recalled to the team and is now back in Hockeytown. Even though he might not stay in Detroit for the long run, he will make an effort to establish his worth.
The former second-round selection has persisted in his attempts to establish his worth with the Red Wings, but he has been forced to make due with his AHL status. In seven NHL games between 2023 and 2024, Berggren has recorded two goals, two assists, and four total points. When he’s on the ice, he’s a plus-four who helps get things done.
Detroit Red Wings forward Jonatan Berggren deserves a bigger role.
He has not gotten much ice time either, with Lalonde keeping him down around the 10-minute mark, which is not the best, in my armchair coach’s opinion. With any luck, this next stint in Detroit will allow him to earn more ice time and prove he can be an asset.
While Berggren has demonstrated he can hold his own as a winger in the NHL, Patrick Kane’s arrival added another forward to an already strong core. In 2022–2023 he participated in 67 games for Detroit, netting 15 goals and dishing out 13 assists for a total of 28 points. Berggren merits a chance, and should he perform well, he might be able to secure additional playing time for the Red Wings.
Berggren might need to be taken seriously if he plays no more than half of the 2023–24 season. additionally worried that Berggren might be traded and end up as a war casualty. If something doesn’t work out, he might wind up being transferred to a new house where he gets to play.
For the time being, though, he will persevere and hope that his time in Detroit will have an impact.