The Detroit Red Wings kicked their season off with a 5-1 loss against the Montreal Canadiens. Since then, Detroit has won five straight games. The Red Wings now have a record of 5-1.
Goaltending has been very good, allowing two or fewer goals in four straight games. Cam Talbot has a record of 3-0-0 with a 1.78 GAA and .932 SV%. John Gibson has bounced back nicely after allowing five goals in the first game. Gibson allowed two or fewer goals in each of his next two starts. He has a record of 2-1-0 with a 2.99 GAA and .873 SV%.
Detroit has not made the playoffs since 2016. Goaltending has been a major issue the last few years for Detroit, which has prevented them from making the postseason.
Gibson and Talbot are both veteran netminders, and the Red Wings will need them both to continue to perform well to have a chance of making the playoffs.
The offense, led by Dylan Larkin, has been red-hot to begin the season as well.
Dylan Larkin Off To Hot Start
Dylan Larkin has been red hot to begin the season. Larkin has 11 points, five goals, and six assists through Detroit’s first six games. He has recorded at least one point in each of the first six contests of the season. Larkin ranks third in points, tied for second in goals, and tied for sixth in assists.
Despite the Red Wings only scoring one goal in their season opener, they have bounced back nicely on offense and now rank in the top 10 in goals per game.
The power play has been above average for the Red Wings, ranking 13th in the league.
Detroit has been efficient on offense, as it ranks just 19th in shots per game.
Goaltending & Penalty Kill Has Been Much Improved So Far
Two of the biggest weaknesses for Detroit last season were goaltending and penalty kill.
Last season, the Red Wings ranked 21st in goals allowed per game and last in penalty kill percentage.
However, this season, Detroit ranks fifth in goals against per game and fourth in penalty kill percentage.
Cam Talbot has a record of 3-0-0 with a 1.78 GAA and .932 SV%. John Gibson bounced back nicely after allowing five goals in the first game. Gibson allowed two or fewer goals in each of his next two starts. He has a record of 2-1-0 with a 2.99 GAA and .873 SV%.
The Red Wings have allowed two or fewer goals in four straight games.
Gibson and Talbot are both veteran goaltenders. Detroit will need them both to continue to perform well to have a chance of making the playoffs.
Detroit Has Not Made Playoffs Since 2016: Can This Finally Be The Year?
The Red Wings have surprisingly not made the playoffs since 2016.
While the season is young, and the Red Wings are only six games in, below are some key stats for the Red Wings.
- Goals For: Ninth
- Goals Against: Fifth
- Assists: 14th
- Shooting Percentage: 10th
- Power Play Percentage: 13th
- Penalty Kill Percentage: Fourth
- Penalty Minutes: First
These are all positive signs early on for the Red Wings.
The most important thing for the Red Wings is a vastly improved penalty kill percentage and goaltending.
John Gibson and Cam Talbot will be the reason why Detroit does or does not make the playoffs.
Another big improvement so far is the offense being efficient. Last season, Detroit ranked 22nd in goals per game, but now ranks ninth, despite scoring just one goal in their season opener.
If the Red Wings can maintain this level of production on offense, combined with a much improved penalty kill and goaltending, Detroit can break their playoff drought and make the postseason for the first time since 2016.
