After a 4-1 loss in Edmonton on Thursday evening, the Detroit Crimson Wings got here up one recreation wanting sweeping by Western Canada (and Seattle) for a second straight 12 months.
Nevertheless, after 5 video games into their longest street journey of the season, Detroit sits at 3-1-1 with one recreation nonetheless to go.
Right here’s what has stood out up to now:
1. Nobody needs to be shocked to see the Crimson Wings lose the second half of a back-to-back in opposition to the two-time defending Western Convention champs.
Nevertheless, Detroit’s win over the Oilers in October was maybe the Crimson Wings’ most spectacular win of the season, so it was going to be an intriguing take a look at. They did play Edmonton nearer than the 4-1 rating would counsel. The one huge distinction this time is that the Oilers had the final change.
In Detroit, the Crimson Wings stapled Dylan Larkin to Connor McDavid, to nice success. Larkin noticed greater than 16 5-on-5 minutes in opposition to McDavid, and delivered the most effective video games of his profession — shutting down probably the most harmful participant within the league and factoring in on all 4 Detroit targets in a 4-2 win.
On Thursday, it was a really completely different story. With the Oilers in charge of the matchups, the Crimson Wings solely managed to get Larkin on the market in opposition to McDavid for five:18.
Now, I assumed McDavid had a significantly better recreation this time. His move to arrange Zach Hyman for the Oilers’ third aim was stellar, and he did it with each Moritz Seider and Simon Edvinsson on the ice.
Hyms occasions 2️⃣‼️ #LetsGoOilers pic.twitter.com/LIeIRuc0eq
— Edmonton Oilers (@EdmontonOilers) December 12, 2025
And notably, the Oilers weren’t simply going after one particular line with McDavid. He noticed his most minutes in opposition to Detroit’s second line, of Andrew Copp, Alex DeBrincat and Patrick Kane, however not by a dramatic margin.
Each of the Oilers’ 5-on-5 targets got here with McDavid’s line on the market in opposition to Detroit trios that had been partway by a line change, together with among the Crimson Wings’ youngest forwards: first in opposition to Nate Danielson, Elmer Söderblom and Copp, after which in opposition to Danielson, Marco Kasper and Alex DeBrincat.
2. The Crimson Wings’ younger forwards have been one of many shiny spots of this street journey, not less than watching from afar. Danielson made the play on Detroit’s lone aim Thursday and will have had a simple tally of his personal off an important feed from Kasper a couple of minutes earlier than. He has three factors in his final 4 video games. Fellow rookie Axel Sandin-Pellikka had 5 factors in his earlier 4 coming in.
And whereas Kasper isn’t getting rewarded for among the good issues he’s doing proper now — that move to Danielson being the most recent instance — I do assume he’s as a consequence of snap out of his funk quickly, too.
That line of Kasper, Danielson and Söderblom has been a shiny spot of late, and whereas their age may make it vulnerable to streakiness, it could be large for the Crimson Wings if that line can set up itself.
Granted, Detroit has jumbled its strains usually up to now. However workforce success results in extra constant lineups, and that can provide gamers extra time to discover a rhythm — not less than for some time. We’ll see how lengthy McLellan leaves the kids collectively.
3. Probably the most spectacular Crimson Wings line just lately has been the trio of Copp, DeBrincat and Patrick Kane. The three labored effectively collectively final season, too, earlier than Copp was misplaced for the season to damage after the 4 Nations break, however they had been clicking getting into the Edmonton recreation.
Copp’s measurement allows him to be a presence across the web and down low for the 2 smaller wingers, however the greater secret’s his smarts, which permits him to play in movement with them. After a quiet offensive begin, he had six factors in 4 video games getting into Thursday, together with an important play on DeBrincat’s second aim in a 4-3 win over Calgary on Wednesday, when Copp compelled a turnover on the forecheck after which discovered DeBrincat within the slot.
Regardless of their success collectively final season, it took Crimson Wings coach Todd McLellan some time to reunite the trio this season. I ponder if he now needs he’d gone to that look sooner, as a result of to my eye it’s been extremely efficient.
4. The largest query for the Crimson Wings proper now is whether or not their improved goaltending during the last week is legit or not.
Their rocky workforce save share (which entered Thursday because the league’s fifth lowest at .884) is partially as a consequence of obvious defensive breakdowns and turnovers. And on Thursday, the Oilers’ second aim got here when defenseman Albert Johansson unintentionally screened Cam Talbot on a Mattias Ekholm level shot. That’s the sort of avoidable mistake the Crimson Wings have seen too usually.
Nevertheless, their goaltenders haven’t bailed them out usually sufficient both. That’s why it was important to see much-maligned John Gibson put up a 39-save shutout Monday in Vancouver after which one other 34-save effort Wednesday within the win over Calgary. Gibson had an opportunity at a shutout in that one, too, with a clear sheet after two durations. However after permitting a penalty shot aim, he gave up two extra in brief succession.
Nonetheless, with 34 saves on 37 photographs that evening, Detroit will take the upward pattern from Gibson, who they’re banking on to stabilize their crease. Even when he’s not the goalie he was in his prime, they want extra nights the place he elevates them. And for as tough as issues seemed early, it’s not less than encouraging to see how he’s fared on this journey.
5. The Crimson Wings will shut out this journey in Chicago on Saturday, and if Thursday at all times stood out as a possible stumbling block on this journey, the sport in opposition to the Blackhawks shall be related.
Detroit will not less than be capable to relaxation some tomorrow. Nevertheless, coming off a back-to-back the final two nights and altering time zones after a protracted journey, they’ll face a troublesome take a look at in opposition to a quick, younger Chicago workforce with robust goaltending.
It’s the sort of recreation many of the latest Crimson Wings groups would lose. However you’ll be able to guess Todd McLellan gained’t let his workforce make any excuses for itself, and it’ll be an excellent take a look at for them in these circumstances.
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