"It's Time Together, It's Adversity Together:" Red Wings Believe Positives Can Be Gleaned from Sweden Trip Despite Frustrating Results
There are no two ways about it: The Detroit Red Wings' trip to Stockholm for the NHL Global Series was a disappointment.
In the build-up to the two games in Sweden, Detroit stressed that, despite the unique nature of an in-season trip to Europe, the team's focus would rest squarely on the two divisional games they would play there. And from those two games, the Red Wings took just one of a possible four points.
Nov 16, 2023; Stockholm, SWEDEN; Detroit Red Wings center Dylan Larkin (71) takes a shot past Ottawa Senators defenseman Erik Brannstrom (26) during a Global Series NHL hockey game at Avicii Arena.
Mandatory Credit: Per Haljestam-USA TODAY Sports
"You sit there and watch both games, and there's a lot of positives, but to kinda find a way to lose both games in different ways was very frustrating," said head coach Derek Lalonde Monday, reflecting on the defeats to the Ottawa Senators and Toronto Maple Leafs.
"If you take the totality of our six periods there, those are more positive than negative in terms of two very winnable games," Lalonde added, noting that he was generally impressed with his team's five-on-five play. "But it's the frustration of us finding a way to lose both of them."
However, despite that frustration and a pair of results that are undeniably disappointing, Lalonde does believe that the trip can still prove a beneficial experience for his team in the long run.
"We hope this benefits us going forward," he said. "There's a little sour taste in your mouth with the fact that we only took one point, especially with the way it played out with four points sitting right there, but it's time together, it's adversity together."
"I think there's a few mistakes in each game that if we clean up, we're coming home with three points, maybe four," said J.T. Compher after Tuesday morning's practice, espousing the same message as his coach and observing that the sense of self-inflicted errors can be empowering because the solutions feel within grasp. "And it's always frustrating to leave points on the table, but when you see it and you know what to clean up and guys are willing to take care of it—like we got after it at practice today—I think it's a good sign."
Defenseman Shayne Gostisbehere had a similar reflection to share Monday afternoon, saying "obviously, the results weren't where we needed to be, especially that last game. Two-goal lead going into the third period was definitely tough, but the whole trip in general is a team-bonding experience. And I'd say we're definitely all a little closer after that trip."
For Gostisbehere, the highlight of the trip was "just seeing Sweden in general, seeing Stockholm, [it's] a city and country with such rich history, so just walking around appreciating where we are, the opportunity we have to do it mid-season and be with your teammates doing it, it was pretty special."
He also pointed out that it's easier acclimating back to the States than it was adjusted to the time change in Sweden, joking that "it's sort of easy coming back when you're a morning person."
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"The small picture [is] obviously disappointing, but the big picture, of course, there's gonna be some positives from that, some experiences there, some time spent together," summated Lalonde.
Winger Alex DeBrincat offered a slightly different perspective, pointing out that the altered schedule brought about by traveling home from Europe forced the Red Wings to stew in the loss to Toronto a bit more than they might have otherwise but that it also affords the team a fresh start.
"If we had a game the next day we'd probably be over it by now, but it sucks to sit on that one for a couple of days and think about it, but I think it's good for us to reset, have this break and come back tomorrow and hopefully get a win," he said.
That chance to start anew will come tomorrow night at Little Caesars Arena, as the Red Wings play host to the New Jersey Devils.
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