The Detroit Red Wings started slow, played slow, and finished slow on Thursday. It was not a good game for Detroit, who was just handed their second loss in as many games. The Winnipeg Jets were in town and were able to get the best of Detroit.
When it comes to the Detroit Red Wings, there’s been a lot to be excited about, but the last two games have certainly not been ones to love. More explicitly, Thursday’s game. The overtime loss to the Kraken still had some things to note, but Thursday’s loss was sloppy.
The Red Wings did not look like the same team they have shown to be early in this season. There were plenty of Jets players too wide open during high-danger scoring attempts. It’s the reason Kyle Connor scored.
The Red Wings were slow out of the gate; taking a couple of penalties did not help either. They dropped the game to the Jets and have to work back up the hill as they continue through their weekend, facing off with Boston.
Detroit Red Wings’ sloppy play leads to a tough loss to the Jets.
1st Period
The first period was a tough start for the Detroit Red Wings. They came out and took some early penalties, giving them a big task early on. They had to kill off two penalties early and took another penalty late in the first period.
Nikolaj Ehlers was able to pick up the Jets for the first goal in this one. Getting under the five-minute mark in the first, he beat James Reimer for the goal. Ehlers fired one over the shoulder of Reimer and beat him.
It was not long before Winnipeg was able to tally once again. Kyle Connor was able to get open out in front and capitalize. He got the puck in front and was able to use a quick release and bury one past Reimer for the tally, putting the Jets up 2-0.
Detroit took that late penalty, as mentioned, but after the first, it felt like it was the 2022-23 Red Wings out there on the ice. They struggled to do much of anything and could not get things. The defense was shotty at best.
2nd Period
In the second period, it was more of the same early on. But Detroit was able to claw back within one. It was Lucas Raymond who buried a rebound shot, beating Hellebuyck for the tally. He brought Detroit within one goal with the back-hand shot.
It has to be good for Raymond to see one go in, as he’s only got one goal on the year. He’s going to come around on his scoring touch. But, perhaps more exciting was that Moritz Seider was able to tally his 100th career point after he assisted on the Raymond goal.
💯 points for Mo!
He becomes the third-fastest #RedWings defenseman to reach the 100-point mark behind Reed Larson and Nicklas Lidstrom. pic.twitter.com/iCtpD3Czyt
— Detroit Red Wings (@DetroitRedWings) October 27, 2023
As noted in the tweet, Seider became the third-fastest Red Wings defender to reach that 100-point mark. He’s got some pretty elite company in Nicklas Lidstrom and Reed Larson. After the goal, the Red Wings fought to try and get back in this one, but Hellebuyck had the answers, and the struggles in the defensive zone proved to be an issue.
3rd Period
In the third period, Detroit quit a bit, and the Jets were able to tie the bow onto this win. Adam Lowry threw the puck toward the front of the net, and Mason Appleton was able to crash hard, seeing the puck re-direct off him into the back of the net for the goal.
It was an excellent job by the Jets, who capitalized on the Red Wings defensive lapse left and right to create scoring chances. They secured the three-goal lead to make it 4-1 with a late empty-netter. Nino Niederreiter was able to fire one home, continuing the solid play by him and his linemates, Mason Appleton and Adam Lowry.
Rundown:
The Detroit Red Wings dropped their second in a row after the loss to the Jets. They struggled to get much of anything going offensively compared to their recent games. They have been a powerhouse but have seemingly hit a bump in the road after the overtime loss to the Kraken and tonight’s loss to the Jets.
The team’s play in the defensive zone was hard to watch at times. There were many times that players were out of position or making what felt like forced plays that led to turnovers. It was much different than watching the Red Wings, who have shown up in the other games through the early part of this season.
Detroit gets a chance to rest before heading out east for a real test against Boston. They’ve picked up one point out of four possible on the week, and being able to show up and show out against the Bruins in their barn would be a nice statement after dropping two in a row.