As much as the Detroit Red Wings have improved offensively, defensively, on special teams and especially goaltending from a year ago, one key intangible can’t be minimized – their mental fortitude.
“Our team is growing in that area,” coach Todd McLellan said in postgame address following Saturday’s 5-1 victory at Winnipeg. “We can work all we want on systems and passing and shooting and skating and all that type of stuff, but sometimes it’s between the ears and we’ve stressed all year that we’re going to get better in that area and I believe we are.”
The Red Wings (32-16-5) have come a long way — from last season and since the start of December. They are 19-5-3 in their past 27 games and are tied for the Eastern Conference lead with 69 points, though teams they’re competing with for that top spot (Carolina, Tampa Bay) have played fewer games.
It’s the most points Detroit has accumulated through 53 games since 2014-15 (71 points).
The Red Wings are coming off a tough trip during which they gained five-of-six points and open a three-game homestand Tuesday against the Los Angeles Kings (7 p.m., FanDuel Sports Network).
J.T. Compher scored two goals against the Jets.
“It took a lot of different guys throughout the road trip and helps when you got good goaltending,” Compher told reporters after the game. “I think John (Gibson) and Cam (Talbot) were great on this trip and they have been for while, so it’s good to get the points and we just keep it going.”
McLellan said his team has become more adept at forechecking.
“We did a good job of that starting in Toronto and I carried over into tonight,” McLellan said. “You become a good forechecking team when all four lines buy into it. You can’t have pauses, and even some of the puck possession guys are willing to give it up a little bit now so we can get on the hunt and try to turn pucks over below the goal line.”
As much as the Detroit Red Wings have improved offensively, defensively, on special teams and especially goaltending from a year ago, one key intangible can’t be minimized – their mental fortitude.
“Our team is growing in that area,” coach Todd McLellan said in postgame address following Saturday’s 5-1 victory at Winnipeg. “We can work all we want on systems and passing and shooting and skating and all that type of stuff, but sometimes it’s between the ears and we’ve stressed all year that we’re going to get better in that area, and I believe we are.”
The Red Wings (32-16-5) have come a long way — from last season and since the start of December. They are 19-5-3 in their past 27 games and are tied for the Eastern Conference lead with 69 points, though teams they’re competing with for that top spot (Carolina, Tampa Bay) have played fewer games.
It’s the most points Detroit has accumulated through 53 games since 2014-15 (71 points).
The Red Wings are coming off a tough trip during which they gained five-of-six points and open a three-game homestand Tuesday against the Los Angeles Kings (7 p.m., FanDuel Sports Network).
J.T. Compher scored two goals against the Jets.
“It took a lot of different guys throughout the road trip and helps when you got good goaltending,” Compher told reporters after the game. “I think John (Gibson) and Cam (Talbot) were great on this trip and they have been for a while, so it’s good to get the points and we just keep it going.”
McLellan said his team has become more adept at forechecking.
“We did a good job of that starting in Toronto and I carried over into tonight,” McLellan said. “You become a good forechecking team when all four lines buy into it. You can’t have pauses, and even some of the puck possession guys are willing to give it up a little bit now so we can get on the hunt and try to turn pucks over below the goal line.”