Photo credit: NHL.com
Detroit Red Wings head coach Todd McLellan called out his team after a lackluster performance against the Buffalo Sabres on Saturday, and they responded with a decisive 2-1 victory over the New York Rangers on Sunday.
After a disappointing loss to the Buffalo Sabres on Saturday, 5-4, Todd McLellan called out his team.
Simon Edvinsson was one of multiple Red Wings players who failed to perform up to expectations, as they let the Buffalo Sabres back into the game with a 4-1 lead.
“I guess that would come into play, but just understanding what’s happening and what’s important in certain moments,” McLellan said about the need to improve the Red Wings’ mental strenth. “We have D that are joining a rush, we’re up by two with seven minutes left, and it’s a risky rush. That just makes no sense to me. We have penalty killers that were throwing pucks back toward our end hoping to get a shot on goal in their end and turning it over for a breakaway.”
And instead of feeling sorry for themselves, they took their constructive criticism from their coach and put it into practice.
Todd McLellan’s call-out leads to 2-1 win vs. Rangers Sunday
The result was a 2-1 victory over another NHL team whose fortunes have changed this season, the New York Rangers.
Lucas Raymond would score the game-winning goal for the Red Wings.
While Coach Todd McLellan would compliment the team’s sixty-minute effort.
«Obviously, we took one on the chin yesterday and were looking for some of that resilience,» McLellan said. ‘We saw that in our group, and I thought that was our best overall team game for a full 60 minutes. We checked for our chances, didn’t have to play with a lot of carelessness or recklessness, and found a way.”
Lucas Raymond and Alex DeBrincat were key contributors, as DeBrincat tallied his third goal in the last two games for the Red Wings.
The team played well enough to break the 1-1 tie and put themselves back into the running for the top spot in the Atlantic Division.
They’re only a point away with their latest win.
Cam Talbot proved to be pivotal in the crease, stopping 18 of 19 and giving the team the kind of netminding needed to win another game.
While the Red Wings sealed Jonathan Quick‘s fate, who hasn’t lost to the team since 2018, with a staggering 40 shots on goal.
The Red Wings are now 11-7-1 and 2nd in the Atlantic Division after their defeat of the New York Rangers.
Previously on Red Wings Insider
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Red Wings group immediately respond to Todd McLellan’s call out
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