{"id":427820,"date":"2026-01-25T19:42:13","date_gmt":"2026-01-25T19:42:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nhl\/427820\/"},"modified":"2026-01-25T19:42:13","modified_gmt":"2026-01-25T19:42:13","slug":"red-wings-mastering-game-management-detroit-hockey-now","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nhl\/427820\/","title":{"rendered":"Red Wings Mastering Game Management \/ Detroit Hockey Now"},"content":{"rendered":"

Among the many factors\u00a0that played a role in the\u00a0Detroit<\/a> Red Wings\u2019 2-0-1 record\u00a0during their just-completed road trip was a simple element that is so difficult for teams to master.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s all about learning not to make much ado about nothing.<\/p>\n

One of the favorite subjects discussed by Red Wings coach Todd McLellan<\/a> is game management. Good teams master this concept. They have a blueprint for getting things done, and good or bad, they don\u2019t waver from that plan.<\/p>\n

\u201cTough road trip with the travel\u2026the late nights\u2026finding a way to get 5 of 6 points is huge.\u201d<\/p>\n

Andrew Copp stopped by postgame after a 5-1 @DetroitRedWings<\/a> victory in Winnipeg to cap off another successful road slate. #LGRW<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/RRD9tY7h8x<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Logan Reever (@loganreever) January 25, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n

McLellan was delighted by how his team stuck with the game plan in Saturday\u2019s 5-1 win at Winnipeg, even though for much of the first two periods, the game wasn\u2019t going their way.<\/p>\n

\u201cI thought the first and second we learned to deal with frustration a little bit,\u201d McLellan<\/a> said on the club\u2019s website. \u201cWe had some shifts go our way, some shifts that didn\u2019t. A little bit of frustration, and I think that was good frustration.\u201d<\/p>\n

Red Wings Learning That Nothing Isn\u2019t A Bad Thing<\/p>\n

The top NHL teams recognize that on most nights, things won\u2019t go according to plan. This is a lesson the Red Wings are finally embracing.<\/p>\n

One of the most challenging aspects of hockey for young players to master is accepting that it\u2019s okay for nothing to happen during a shift. You don\u2019t have to win every shift. Just don\u2019t lose the shift.<\/p>\n

Take the tie, and wait for the next opportunity.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s fine to be upset when things aren\u2019t unfolding as planned. But what matters most is not letting that facet alter the way you\u2019re playing.<\/p>\n

Don\u2019t try to force things. Never stray from the plan. Don\u2019t cheat to try to create offense.<\/p>\n

Keep playing the right way, and eventually, things will go your way.<\/p>\n

A two-goal game for J.T. Compher led us to a 5-1 win in Winnipeg last night!<\/p>\n

Our @xfinity<\/a> game-changing moment(s) \ud83d\udc4f pic.twitter.com\/R55YxevGj9<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Detroit Red Wings (@DetroitRedWings) January 25, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n

\u201cGuys are pushing each other now, and they\u2019re getting a little upset when it\u2019s not going their way,\u201d McLellan said. \u201cBut we needed to channel it the right way. We did that in the third (period on Saturday).\u201d<\/p>\n

Games Will Only Become Tougher<\/p>\n

As the NHL season moves into February and March, that\u2019s when the Red Wings have come unglued in recent campaigns, costing them a playoff berth. McLellan is seeing signs this year that this club is preparing to meet that challenge head-on.<\/p>\n

He sees their road success as an indication that they\u2019re making adjustments.<\/p>\n

\u201cWell, good teams find ways to win on the road,\u201d McLellan said. \u201cThat could be with your A game, your B game, power play, penalty kill. Make something get it done for you. And I would say in our wins, we\u2019ve probably had a variety.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s always nice to play at home. It\u2019s great to be in front of your fans and have the last change. But sometimes just being on the road is simple too, and I think we\u2019ve handled ourselves well to this point.<\/p>\n

\u201cBut it\u2019s only going to get harder as it gets tighter. It\u2019s going to get cranked up, and checking is going to get tighter, and game management is going to be even more important.\u201d<\/p>\n

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