After enduring a difficult month of December, the Detroit Red Wings desperately needed a strong January or risk falling out of the playoff race entirely. The Wings answered the bell to the tune of going 9-2-2 and grabbing 20 out of a possible 26 points, leading Detroit head coach Derek Lalonde to call it “an outstanding month.” The good January has the Red Wings in playoff position and on track for 91 points.
Tied with the Toronto Maple Leafs in the two wild-card spots in the Eastern Conference and six points ahead of the New York Islanders, Detroit’s 58 points at the All-Star break also gives them an advantage from a cluster of teams fighting for playoff contention.
Detroit’s season looked like it was going to unravel when the team went 3-9-1 in December and nothing was going right. From injuries to inconsistent play, the Red Wings were free-falling from the overall standings and playoff position. Somehow, Lalonde’s group found a way to overcome critical injuries (Patrick Kane missed three weeks in January and Ben Chiarot and goalie Ville Husso also missed a lot of time.)
The Detroit Red Wings have been getting scoring from one likely player and another who has found his game again. Lucas Raymond if you go by his rookie season had a bit of a downturn in production last season. This season, Raymond through 50 games played has 13 goals, 28 assists, and 41 points, Raymond has been much tougher on the puck and difficult to move off the puck.
Andrew Copp, who struggled to find his game after core muscle surgery, last season has done just that. Copp who has 10 goals, 14 assists with 24 points has been playing some of the best hockey of his career, and certainly his best hockey since joining the Red Wings.
The Red Wings have a league-leading 10 players with double-digit goals and look like they will be a tough out in the playoffs.
