Connected in their recent struggles, the Detroit Red Wings visit the Ottawa Senators on Thursday night.
The Red Wings are 3-4-3 in their last 10 games while the Senators are 3-5-2.
Detroit lost 3-2 in overtime at Boston on Tuesday night. It was the Red Wings’ second consecutive OT loss and fifth straight loss by one goal.
Detroit led 2-1 in the third period, but Justin Brazeau’s power-play goal tied the game 2-2 at 9:32 and Pavel Zacha got the winner 2:15 into overtime.
The Red Wings’ penalty kill has been an issue this season. Not only is their 65.3 PK success rate by far the worst in the NHL but is on track to break the all-time record for penalty-killing futility. The record belongs to the Los Angeles Kings from the 1979-80 season when they killed 68.2 percent of power plays.
“Sometimes you just got to find a way, really,” Detroit penalty killer Tyler Motte said. “That’s what killing is all about. Finding a way to get clears, get blocks.”
Lucas Raymond scored both goals for the Red Wings.
“It’s frustrating because we are doing a lot of good things,” Detroit coach Derek Lalonde said of the team’s recent play. “We keep (getting points), again that’s points in six of the last eight (games). It’s a pretty good pace, but I think there are stretches in our game that we play really well, and you got to want it more, but we self-inflict (mistakes).”
The Senators are returning from a three-day break after losing in a shootout 4-3 to the Ducks in Anaheim on Sunday. It completed a three-game California swing in which Ottawa was 1-1-1.
Captain Brady Tkachuk scored two goals against the Ducks.
“At this point, all we care about is winning and whatever it takes to win,” Tkachuk said. “We have full belief in this group that things are going to turn for us, and it’s just time to dig in and dig deep. The answer’s in that room and we’re going to find it and be the best versions of ourselves when we do.”
The Senators trailed by a goal and rallied to tie it three times in regulation.
“I’m really happy with how we responded from the adversity throughout the game,” said goaltender Linus Ullmark, who made 31 saves. “We didn’t break, we bent, and we came back and we played a really good game, and we finished off on a good note. I think we can bring this with us into our next game.”
Veteran Red Wings star winger Patrick Kane has missed the last five games because of an upper-body injury and his status for Thursday night’s game is unknown.
Detroit is also without its top two goalies. Cam Talbot has a lower-body injury and Alex Lyon is on the injured list with an undisclosed injury. Ville Husso made 32 saves on Tuesday and Sebastian Cossa was his backup. Both were called up from the Red Wings’ AHL affiliate in Grand Rapids recently.
–Field Level Media
