On Saturday night, the Detroit Red Wings were a dejected bunch, frustrated and angered by a poor performance resulting in a 5-4 overtime loss to the Buffalo Sabres. Twenty-four hours later, they were overjoyed by a sterling effort that allowed them to defeat the New York Rangers 2-1 in Madison Square Garden.

“Can we bottle this type of (game) and play on our toes, play aggressive, smart, not careless and reckless?,” Detroit coach Todd McLellan asked rhetorically after the game. “If we can keep doing this…”

The answer is they can play like this from time to time. But the patchwork nature of their roster — a few top players, some promising youngsters and three or four average veterans — probably will have difficulty finding the consistency required for a smooth march to the postseason.

LIVE FROM NEW YORK…

IT’S A #REDWINGS WIN!!! pic.twitter.com/APyWdKGAR5

— Detroit Red Wings (@DetroitRedWings) November 17, 2025

But maybe this up-and-down team can play like this often enough to grab a playoff spot in this parity league.  They’ve played 19 games (23.1% of their schedule), and even though they are flawed, they are second in the Atlantic Division. At 11-7-1, the Red Wings own the league’s 10th-best record.  They are 6-3-1 at home and 5-4 on the road. Maybe this is who they are at this point in the Red Wings rebuild. Perhaps it’s good enough to get them in.

“Everyone was contributing (in New York) and it was a solid, mature game, but we still didn’t lose our offense in any way,” said Lucas Raymond who had the game-winning goal. “(Maybe) kind of try to copy and paste and make it a habit of playing that way.”

Red Wings In Case You Missed It

Detroit prospect Eddie Genborg’s delivered a two-ton bodycheck that led to a win in the Swedish Hockey League.

Trey Augustine’s stock is rising sharply as an NHL prospect. He’s on top of his game in East Lansing.The Red Wings’ loss to the Sabres lays out why the Red Wings haven’t been qualifying for the playoffs.

Red Wings Extra

Lucas Raymond’s two-point game in the win against the New York Rangers gives him 2o points (5-15-20) in 17 games. That’s the quickest any Red Wings player at age 23 or younger reached 20 points in a season since Sergei Fedorov reached 20 points in 12 games in 1993-94.

Hockey Now Network

Boston: Defenseman Charlie McAvoy injured by slap shot to his face. Boston Bruins.  

Charlie McAvoy did travel home with his Bruins teammates last night per @FriedgeHNIC after taking this slapper in the jaw. Hoping for the best for him. pic.twitter.com/NoHidN0Lz8

— Joe Haggerty (@HackswithHaggs) November 16, 2025

New Jersey: James Nichols explains why Simon Nemic has finally arrived as NHL player.  New Jersey Devils. 

Pittsburgh: Sergei Murashov’s first NHL goalie win was a memorable one. Dan Kingerski has details. Pittsburgh Penguins.