Coaches always make it clear that there is no such entity as an easy-to-beat NHL opponent. But on paper at least, Wednesday’s victorious Utah Mammoth looked tame compared to the Murderer’s Row of opponents that the Detroit Red Wings are about to face.

On Saturday and Sunday, the Red Wings play a home-and-home against the Washington Capitals (18-11-4). The Caps are 6-2-2 in their last 10 and rank 10th in the overall standings.
On Tuesday, the Dallas Stars are Detroit’s opponent at Little Caesars Arena. GM Jim Nill’s teams is second in the overall standings and 7-2-1 in their last 10.
After Christmas break, Detroit will be on the road, Dec. 27, to play the Metropolitan-leading Carolina Hurricanes. They rank third in the overall standings and are 8-2 in their last 10.
The next night, Detroit is home to play the Toronto Maple Leafs. Little Caesars Arena will have plenty of Maple Leafs fans in attendance to see a Toronto team that has picked up its pace. The Maple Leafs are 6-2-2 in their last 10.

Add it to the Mikko Rantanen highlight reel 😮‍💨 pic.twitter.com/fc2t1A057E

— Dallas Stars (@DallasStars) December 16, 2025

These five games will test the Red Wings commitment to playing the two-way hockey that they need to play to be successful. It’s about playing hard in front of both nets. Can they do that consistently against quality teams?

Red Wings in Case You Missed It

The Detroit Red Wings and St. Louis Blues pipeline starts with a friendship between GMs Steve Yzerman and Doug Armstrong.

Back-to-back games have been problematic for the coach Todd McLellan’s team this season.

The Red Wings were where they needed to be, but doing what they were supposed to be doing, in the loss to the Utah Mammoth. 

Red Wings Extra

After scoring his eighth goal Wednesday, Emmitt Finnie is now tied for fourth among the league’s rookie goal scorers Oliver Kapanen (10), Beckett Sennecke(10) and Matthew Schaefer (9).  Finnie’s three power play goals this season, tying Raymond and James van Riemsdyk for the third-most among Detroit players behind DeBrincat (9) and Larkin (4). Finnie is also fourth among all rookies for power play goals, trailing Schaefer (5), Dalibor Dvorsky (4) and Ben Kindel (4). His 16 points ties him for fifth-most among record behind Sennecke (27), Ivan Demidov (25), Schaefer (23) and Ryan Leonard (18).

FINNIE 🚨 Power play goal from John Leonard, who gets his 1st point with the Red Wings. Utah decided not to challenge for a hand pass (correct call, I think).

Detroit within 1. #LGRW pic.twitter.com/acRddIe9vj

— Ryan Hana (@RyanHanaWWP) December 18, 2025

Comedian Lewis Black has a funny bit about how being a San Diego television weatherman being an easy job. An anchor cuts away to the San Diego weatherperson and asks him for his San Diego forecast. “Nice…back to you,” he says. That’s similar to reports about how Detroit prospect Rudy Guimond is performing with the Moncton Wildcats in the QMJHL. How did Guimond do last night?: “He won…back to you.” There’s not much else left to say. Guimond’s consistency has been remarkable since he moved to the “Q”. He made 43 saves Wednesday in Moncton’s 6-3 win against the Newfoundland Regiment. Guimond is now 19-3-2 this season and 35-3-2 overall with Moncton. His 2.26 GAA and .927 save percentage leads his league. It’s a good situation for the Red Wings who will be able to see him next season against college competition. He will be playing at Harvard.

Hockey Now Network

Florida: Life is good for the Panthers again. They are back in playoff contention. Florida Panthers.

Philadelphia: The Flyers say that Tyson Foerster’s injury will keep him out of the lineup for months. Philadelphia Flyers. 

Pittsburgh: The Penguins will have new ownership, with Fenway Sports Group completing the paperwork to move the franchise on to the Hoffmann Family of Companies. Frank Seravalli broke the story. He is reporting the sale will be for around $1.7 billion or $1.8 billion. Pittsburgh Penguin

San Jose: Sheng Peng writes that Sharks fans are starting to believe again after their 17-14-3 start. They currently hold a wildcard spot. San Jose Sharks.