Red Wings Hit Rocky Patch Ahead of Rematch with Avalanche
The Detroit Red Wings were flying high not long ago, one of the NHL’s hottest teams with momentum on their side. But lately, that spark has cooled. They’ve dropped three straight and four of their last five, and now face one of the toughest road tests in hockey: a trip to Colorado to face an Avalanche team that just shut them out 5-0 on home ice.
This marks Detroit’s first trip west into the Rockies this season, and the timing couldn’t be more challenging. The Wings are looking to shake off a rough stretch and flip the script after being thoroughly outplayed by Colorado just days ago. But if they’re going to get back in the win column, they’ll need to tighten things up on the road - they’ve split their last four away games, going 2-2.
Slipping Offense, Shifting Lineup
The most noticeable dip in Detroit’s game has come on the offensive end. During their recent five-game slide, the scoring well has started to dry up. The Red Wings have managed just 12 goals in that stretch - and seven of those have come from their top two weapons: Alex DeBrincat and Lucas Raymond.
That’s where the concern lies. When your top-line guys are still producing but the rest of the lineup can’t follow suit, it puts a lot of pressure on the stars to carry the load every night. Depth scoring has been a rollercoaster this season for Detroit - a weakness early on, then a strength during their winning streak, and now it’s gone quiet again.
Marco Kasper has quietly chipped in with a goal and two assists during the slump, tying him for third on the team in points over that span. But the Wings need more from the supporting cast if they want to hang with top-tier teams like Colorado.
Patrick Kane, for instance, hasn’t found the back of the net in 11 straight games. Andrew Copp, who was tracking for a career year earlier in the season, is now scoreless in his last nine.
And rookie Emmitt Finnie is still searching for his first goal in 18 games. That’s a lot of offensive silence from key contributors.
Gibson Looking to Regain Form
In net, John Gibson has been one of the Red Wings’ biggest bright spots this season - but even he hasn’t been immune to the recent slide. He’s dropped three straight starts, including the loss to Colorado where he gave up four goals on just 21 shots. It was his toughest outing in weeks and a rare stumble for a goalie who’s been in the Vezina conversation.
Detroit will need Gibson to bounce back in a big way, especially with the defense still adjusting to life without Simon Edvinsson. The blue line has held up reasonably well under pressure, but the cracks are starting to show - and against a team like the Avalanche, any defensive lapses can turn into goals in a hurry.
Avalanche Still Dangerous, Even While Banged Up
The Avalanche might be on their own bumpy stretch - winless in their last eight - but don’t let that fool you. They’ve still been lighting the lamp at a solid clip, putting up 29 goals during that span. That’s an average of 3.22 goals per game, which tells you their offensive engine is still running, even if the wins aren’t coming.
Their issue has been on the back end. With Devon Toews out of the lineup, Colorado’s defensive pairings have been in flux, and the results haven’t been pretty. They’ve allowed 3.78 goals per game over the past eight - the fifth-worst mark in the league during that stretch.
They’re also dealing with some key injuries up front. Captain Gabe Landeskog, Martin Necas, and Drew O’Connor are all out, which thins their forward depth and could open the door for Detroit to get back on track - if the Red Wings can find their scoring touch.
Goalie Matchup: Gibson vs. Blackwood
Detroit will likely turn back to Gibson, who enters with a 21-11-2 record, a 2.68 goals-against average, and a .903 save percentage on the season. He’s had a mixed history against Colorado - 10-12-2 in 26 career games, but with a strong .920 save percentage.
On the other side, Colorado is expected to go with MacKenzie Blackwood, who’s quietly put together an excellent campaign. He’s 15-4-1 with a 2.32 GAA and a .914 SV%, and has won four of his six career starts against Detroit.
Can the Wings Turn It Around?
This is a pivotal moment for Detroit. The team that stormed out of the gates earlier this season is still in there - but right now, they’re searching for answers. If they can generate some secondary scoring and get a bounce-back performance from Gibson, they’ve got a shot to steal one in Denver.
But make no mistake: Colorado may be banged up and struggling defensively, but they’re still dangerous. If Detroit wants to snap out of this funk, they’ll need to bring their A-game - and rediscover the offensive rhythm that made them so tough to beat just a few weeks ago.