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Red Wings' Power Play and Penalty Kill Woes Fuel Recent Slump
10 Nov
Summary
- Red Wings' power play has scored just once in last 20 opportunities
- Penalty kill allowed 3 goals on 3 shots against Blackhawks
- Key players like Kasper and Raymond underperforming
The Detroit Red Wings have hit a rough patch in their season, going 4-6 in their last 10 games after a promising 5-1 start. While the team still finds itself in the thick of the Eastern Conference playoff race, there are some concerning trends that have emerged over the past week.
The primary issue has been the Red Wings' special teams play. Their power play has been abysmal, scoring just once in the last 20 opportunities. Head coach Todd McLellan described the unit as "upside down," and it has dropped to 18.9% on the season, a significant decline from their 27% success rate last year. Faceoff issues and struggles to gain clean zone entries have compounded the problem.
The penalty kill has also been a liability, allowing three goals on three shots in a recent loss to the Blackhawks. Overall, the PK is operating at 80% on the season, a dip from their previous performance.
Beyond the special teams woes, the Red Wings have also seen some key players underperform. Rookie Marco Kasper has been quiet after a strong finish to last season, while Lucas Raymond has not consistently looked like himself since an early-season injury. The team needs more from these young talents to complement the production of Dylan Larkin and Alex DeBrincat.
With a game against the Anaheim Ducks coming up, the Red Wings will look to make some lineup adjustments and get their special teams back on track. The early-season momentum may have faded, but this is still a team with plenty of talent and potential to turn things around.
