McLellan on Stadium Series Missed High Stick: "Should Never Be in that Situation"

Mar 1, 2025; Columbus, Ohio, USA; Columbus Blue Jackets right wing Justin Danforth (17) scores a goal against Detroit Red Wings goaltender Cam Talbot (39) and defenseman Albert Johansson (20) in the third period at Ohio Stadium. (Aaron Doster, Imagn Images)

For a lot of Detroit Red Wings fans, Saturday night's Stadium Series game boils down to a single moment of frustration: A missed high-sticking call from Justin Danforth to the face of Simon Edvinsson, giving Danforth the lane he needed for what became the game-winning goal with 2:17 to play.

There were positives to take from the performance from a Detroit perspective. As Red Wings coach Todd McLellan told reporters in his post-game remarks, it was a far better effort than his team mustered Thursday night against the Jackets at Little Caesars Arena. Yet ultimately, where it mattered most—on the scoreboard and in the standings—Detroit came up empty.

The Detroit Red Wings spent most of Saturday night's Stadium Series game against the Blue Jackets at Ohio Stadium in Columbus chasing. They never led, and, after Denton Mateychuk scored the opening goal five minutes into the second period, Detroit couldn't manage to stay tied for so much as four minutes running.

thehockeynews.comRed Wings Stunned Late, Drop Stadium Series to Columbus 5–3The Detroit Red Wings spent most of Saturday night's Stadium Series game against the Blue Jackets at Ohio Stadium in Columbus chasing. They never led, and, after Denton Mateychuk scored the opening goal five minutes into the second period, Detroit couldn't manage to stay tied for so much as four minutes running.

"When you think of the type of game we played two nights ago in Detroit and the response that we got, we were aggressive, but at the end of the day, we have to learn how to win those games and not lose them. And that's what we did tonight, so our team has work to do," McLellan said.

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At the end of his opening statement, McLellan pre-empted questions about the non-call for Danforth's stick to Edvinsson's face, saying, "I know I'm gonna get asked about the missed call and all that type of stuff: Yes, but should never be in that situation. Not with the two D men back there."

While that might not be the message Red Wings fans (aggrieved at the sense that the officials cost their team a chance at the victory, McLellan's message is spot on. Bad calls are part of the game; it is each team's responsibility to make sure they eliminate that margin for error from their performance. Yes, this was a particularly clear-cut miss, and yes, it came at a particularly decisive moment, but ultimately, a winning team will never offer officiating as an explanation for a result.

Detroit occupied defensive positions that should have been able to stymy Danforth, regardless of his clipping Edvinsson with his blade. Goaltender Cam Talbot probably should have been able to squeeze Danforth's initial shot without the rebound. The Red Wings could have converted on more of the myriad chances they created in the third. They could have been stiffer on the penalty kill late in the second. They could have managed the shift following the PK goal against better and not allowed CBJ a two-goal lead heading into the third.

Officiating did not cost Detroit the game Saturday night. It certainly didn't help, but while the Red Wings played far better than they had Thursday, it wasn't sufficient for a win.

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