Coaches always make it clear that there is no such entity as an easy-to-beat NHL opponent. But on paper at least, Wednesday\u2019s victorious Utah Mammoth looked tame compared to the Murderer\u2019s Row of opponents that the Detroit Red Wings are about to face.<\/p>\n
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.
\nOn Tuesday, the Dallas Stars are Detroit\u2019s opponent at Little Caesars Arena. GM Jim Nill\u2019s teams is second in the overall standings and 7-2-1 in their last 10.
\nAfter 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.
\nThe 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.<\/p>\n
Add it to the Mikko Rantanen highlight reel \ud83d\ude2e\u200d\ud83d\udca8 pic.twitter.com\/fc2t1A057E<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 Dallas Stars (@DallasStars) December 16, 2025<\/a><\/p>\n These five games will test the Red Wings commitment to playing the two-way hockey that they need to play to be successful. It\u2019s about playing hard in front of both nets. Can they do that consistently against quality teams?<\/p>\n Red Wings in Case You Missed It<\/p>\n The Detroit Red Wings and St. Louis Blues pipeline starts with a friendship between GMs Steve Yzerman<\/a> and Doug Armstrong.<\/p>\n Back-to-back games have been problematic for the coach Todd McLellan\u2019<\/a>s team this season.<\/p>\n 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.\u00a0<\/a><\/p>\n Red Wings Extra<\/p>\n After scoring his eighth goal Wednesday, Emmitt Finnie is now tied for fourth among the league\u2019s rookie goal scorers Oliver Kapanen (10), Beckett Sennecke(10) and Matthew Schaefer (9). \u00a0Finnie\u2019s 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).<\/p>\n FINNIE \ud83d\udea8 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).<\/p>\n Detroit within 1. #LGRW<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/acRddIe9vj<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 Ryan Hana (@RyanHanaWWP) December 18, 2025<\/a><\/p>\n 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. \u201cNice\u2026back to you,\u201d he says. That\u2019s similar to reports about how Detroit prospect Rudy Guimond is performing with the Moncton Wildcats in the QMJHL. How did Guimond do last night?: \u201cHe won\u2026back to you.\u201d There\u2019s not much else left to say. Guimond\u2019s consistency has been remarkable since he moved to the \u201cQ\u201d. He made 43 saves Wednesday in Moncton\u2019s 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\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n Hockey Now Network<\/p>\n Florida: Life is good for the Panthers again. They are back in playoff contention. Florida Panthers.<\/a><\/p>\n Philadelphia: The Flyers say that Tyson Foerster\u2019s injury will keep him out of the lineup for months. Philadelphia Flyers.\u00a0<\/a><\/p>\n 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<\/a><\/p>\n 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.<\/a><\/p>\n \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t