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topicnews · October 10, 2024

The Detroit Red Wings face a demanding schedule right from the start

The Detroit Red Wings face a demanding schedule right from the start

Detroit — Teams will experience difficult stretches in their regular season schedule. It’s bound to happen, and it happens to every team in every sport.

The Red Wings will face a difficult gauntlet in October as the 2024-25 season begins.

After the game against Pittsburgh in the season opener on Thursday, the Wings play two games each within a week against Nashville and the New York Rangers. There are also games with the New York Islanders and Buffalo, with home games against New Jersey, Edmonton and Winnipeg.

In total there are 10 games against some of the best teams in the NHL. Only Buffalo isn’t considered a sure bet for the playoffs, but the Sabers have enough young talent to make a serious push for a postseason berth. And even though Pittsburgh is getting older and has missed the playoffs the last two seasons, it definitely presents a big challenge.

“Everyone has stretches like that in their schedule,” Wings coach Derek Lalonde said. “We’ve got it started.”

The Wings hope history repeats itself in some ways. They started 3-0-2 in Lalonde’s first year behind the bench and got off to a 5-1-0 start last season.

Lalonde emphasized difficult drills during training camp and preseason last month to prepare the Wings team for the start of the schedule.

“The last two years we’ve had great starts,” said captain Dylan Larkin. “We had great camps and it lasts until October. We look forward to coming back to Little Caesars Arena and playing in front of our fans.”

The players were excited about the potential atmosphere at LCA on Thursday for a number of reasons.

Not only does it mark the start of another season, but they also remember last season’s dramatic end and the wild hometown atmosphere as the Wings pulled off exciting victories to stay in the playoff race until the end.

Add to that the fact that the Tigers had a potentially pivotal game across the street on Thursday, which would certainly keep fans on their toes.

“At our last home game (last season) against Montreal and when we watched the video of Lucas (Raymond) scoring a goal (at the latest in regulation time, then in overtime) with the goalkeeper pulled, the atmosphere was the best since “The opening of the building and I played a game there,” Larkin said.

The excitement and success of last season was positive, but the Wings can’t automatically believe it will happen again.

Lalonde tried to maintain focus Thursday and through the first month.

“When you start talking about where we were at the end of last season, you talk about the result, and it never works that way when you get lost in what you do every day,” Lalonde said. “Our only focus since our last friendly was (Thursday against Pittsburgh).”

Thursday’s game was Lalonde’s third opening night at the LCA, and he was excited to experience it.

“You always dread opening night because there’s so much that goes into it,” Lalonde said. “I was very enthusiastic about all three and that speaks for our group. We set different expectations (this season) and you have to take the next step.”

Hard classification

Lalonde has often spoken about the Wings working their way into the top half of the Atlantic Division rather than waiting for one of the four heavyweights to drop back.

Reigning Stanley Cup champions Florida, Boston, Toronto and Tampa Bay still appear to be a step above the Wings, Buffalo, Ottawa and Montreal.

Lalonde believes it is still up to the Wings to reach that level.

“The division is a bear,” Lalonde said. “These teams don’t come to us. I mentioned this a few years ago, but we have to go to these teams. We’re slowly getting there.”

The Wings believe they are in some ways better equipped to handle the upper levels of the Atlantic.

“We’re a better team this year than we were last year,” Lucas Raymond said. “Of course with some additions, but the internal growth was big for us.”

Ice chips

Pittsburgh entered Thursday’s game after losing 6-0 at home to the New York Rangers on Wednesday. The Penguins were booed by the home fans throughout the evening.

“This will be an extremely motivated team,” Lalonde said of the Penguins. “They are too well trained and have won too much (over the years). They are very proud of this space.”

… JT Compher has centered Vladimir Tarasenko and Patrick Kane, two new linemates, all preseason, but Compher feels the chemistry is developing.

“We continue to grow,” Compher said. “We got to know each other through camp the more reps we did. They’re two quality players and I’m trying to complement those guys.”

… Lalonde admires Pittsburgh coach Mike Sullivan. Lalonde compares Sullivan to Tampa’s Jon Cooper, under whom Lalonde assisted for five seasons.

“These guys are evolving,” Lalonde said of their success. “What I learned from Jon Cooper is how hard he works and getting to know (Sullivan), it’s her incredible work ethic. There is a reason why they are the best in their field. This is a lesson for me.”

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@tkulfan

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