The Red Wings’ 3-0 start put them in control against the Sabres, but their defense proved more important in not relinquishing the lead
Eight minutes into Sunday’s matinee against the Sabres, the Red Wings seemed well on their way to an emphatic blowout. Three goals in at that point off of two rush chances and a power play, Detroit’s offense was humming with one of its best starts in weeks.
But instead of winning through an offensive outpouring, the Red Wings instead opted to shut the door with superior defense. Despite getting outshot by 14 against an aggressive Sabres offense, Detroit’s defensive efforts retained its lead and won Sunday’s game by allowing just a lone power play goal. In pursuit of a playoff spot, that ability to lock down the game bodes well for what the Red Wings could do if they get there.
“I thought that we did a good job locking it down,” goaltender Alex Lyon said. “I think they had some opportunities, but I think for the most part we did a good job of getting in deep and making them go 200 feet. And that’s what you gotta do when you have a lead and play from the inside out and protect the house, and I thought for the most part we were diligent with that.”
Instead of chasing offense in a way that might overextend themselves, the Red Wings opted to stay structured and play solid defense. In a game they controlled throughout with at least a two-goal lead, Detroit didn’t need to score any more goals if it could prevent any more from reaching the back of the net. Such a mentality is the calling card of playoff hockey, when teams play for wins and losses instead of scores and point totals. It takes discipline to pull off, but that discipline is what the Red Wings showed.
In this trial run of playoff hockey, Detroit passed. The Sabres took 34 of their 38 shots on goal in the final 50 minutes — four with an empty net — but the majority were low danger chances that Lyon turned away. The Red Wings blocked 30 shots in the process, 10 of which came from Moritz Seider alone. Lyon played a strong game, too, stopping frenetic chances 6-on-5 in the final minutes.
Such a defensive avenue to victory is an identity switch for Detroit, whose wins this season have come from their deep offensive contributions rather than tight-checking hockey. Of their 38 wins, only seven — including Sunday’s — have come with the Red Wings scoring three goals or fewer. More of their wins came from aggressive offensive play, constantly chasing the next goal instead of playing defense while satisfied with the scoreboard.
Sunday night wasn’t a defensive revelation given the Sabres’ high shot count, but it stands as a drastic improvement.
“They’re tough to play against because they’re very aggressive offensively,” Red Wings coach Derek Lalonde said. “So to hold them to zero goals 5-on-5 is a huge positive. Obviously Alex was a big part of that.”
As much as a potent start put the Red Wings in charge against the Sabres, their overall defensive play won the game. All they had to do was defend the lead instead of raising the bar. Scoring more builds a cushion, but defending even better makes that cushion extraneous.
“I saw a stat the other day, we’re one of maybe two or three teams that has 12 wins when trailing in the third,” Lalonde said. “There’s some mental fortitude from the group, but finding ways to close out games is difficult, especially against a team like that. And again, I think Alex was being a little humble there. I thought he was our best player in the third. That team had some looks, some really good looks that he kept out of the net.”
Playoff hockey isn’t about scoring surges; it’s about taking control of the game. Detroit didn’t need to push much to be in charge of Sunday’s game, so it didn’t. It defended its lead, and with it sealed a crucial win in a multi-team playoff race that it’s finally pulling ahead in.
As much as an offensive outpouring might have seemed like a major coup against the Sabres, allowing them to score one goal stands as a greater accomplishment as the playoffs near. The Red Wings won’t beat the likes of the New York Rangers, Boston Bruins or Florida Panthers in an offensive track meet. Instead, they’ll have to lock down the game and make their goals count without risking their defense. It’s an easier concept to write about than to implement, but Sunday’s effort was much more in line with where Detroit needs to be heading into the postseason it’s chasing.
While the Red Wings’ hot 3-0 start was significant against Buffalo, the greater revelation was the way they defended the lead. That’s playoff hockey, and that’s where they need to be if they want to do anything in them.