The surging Detroit Red Wings have solidified their position in the Eastern Conference playoff race by going 13-4-2 during the new year.
They will bid for their fourth straight victory Saturday when they host the St. Louis Blues.
The Red Wings sustained their roll by rallying past the Colorado Avalanche 2-1 in overtime Thursday.
“This is two more points, and they all count the same right now,” Red Wings captain Dylan Larkin said. “This is a huge team win.”
The Red Wings have been resilient in their playoff chase. They have trailed after two periods 24 times this season and they have managed to earn 18 points (8-14-2) in those games.
“You don’t win that often when you are trailing going into the third, and you certainly don’t do it as many times as we have this year,” Detroit coach Derek Lalonde said. “I think that speaks well of our group.
“I think we stick to our game. We don’t need to chase the extra goal. It’s gonna come if we do things correct. The extra goal or two goals. I think our guys have done a pretty good job with that. A little step in our maturity as a group.”
Detroit winger Patrick Kane, who scored the game-winning overtime goal against the Avalanche, has three goals and five assists during his six-game point streak.
The Blues are coming into this game on a high note. They handled the New York Islanders 4-0 at home Thursday with goaltender Jordan Binnington earning a shutout and their top line of Robert Thomas, Pavel Buchnevich and Jordan Kyrou scoring three times.
Buchnevich had a hat trick, Thomas had three assists and Kyrou had two helpers.
“They’re our top players,” Blues interim coach Drew Bannister said. “That’s just a fact. For us to have success, it can’t just lean on them. We need them to perform, but everyone else has to perform, too, if we’re going to have success.”
Thomas has two goals and 11 assists in his seven games since the All-Star break. His line was dangerous during much of Thursday’s victory.
“It’s fun,” Thomas said. “You’re playing hockey and you love making those plays, especially off the rush. Some nice passing plays. Since the break, we haven’t had too many good 5-on-5 games. We’ve scored a lot on the power play, but it was nice to really cash in 5-on-5 tonight. Going down the stretch, it’s important when chances don’t come as much.”
The Red Wings won the previous meeting between the teams 6-4 on Dec. 12. Former Blues goaltender Ville Husso made 33 saves in the game and former Blues Robby Fabbri and Jake Walman scored goals.
Husso has been sidelined since he suffered a lower-body injury on Feb. 13. Alex Lyon has taken over as the lead goaltender and is 11-4-2 during the new year.
Kevin Hayes scored twice for the Blues during the previous game against Detroit and Binnington allowed five goals on 31 shots.
–Field Level Media
