Looking ahead to tonight's game between the Red Wings and Bruins, as Detroit looks to start a winning streak
DETROIT—Tonight, the Red Wings (8-9-2) will look to build on the momentum from Thursday's win as they host the Boston Bruins (9-9-3) at Little Caesars Arena.
Detroit skates into the evening's affair with some momentum to build on following the 2-1 come-from-behind win over the Islanders two nights ago. This morning, coach Derek Lalonde commended the Red Wings' team defense in that winning effort, citing improvement in some details that had been lacking during the winless three-game tour of California.
"At the end of that west coast trip, between the odd-mans and some missed sorts and tracks, we worked on it, and we did a good job of cleaning it up," Lalonde said. "So an overall team game was a pretty good game, but I do think we still need to do a little more offensively, getting to those hard areas, especially tonight. Obviously watching Boston back in their last game net. It'll be hard to get to that area."
To that end, it's been a tumultuous week for the visiting Bruins. On Tuesday, Boston fired coach Jim Montgomery. Montgomery had assumed that post in June 2022. In his first season, his Bruins set the NHL's record for regular season wins and points, before losing their first round series to the Florida Panthers, despite taking a 3-1 lead to open the series. Last season, Boston's 47-20-15 record was good for second in the Atlantic Division, and the B's advanced to the second round, where they again fell to the Panthers. 20 games into his third year, Montgomery's tenure ended, and Joe Sacco—who had served as an assistant for the Bruins since 2014-15—took over as head coach on an interim basis.
"Tough league," said Lalonde, who knows Montgomery well, of his dismissal. It's the reality of it. It's the expectations. If you're not in your first year and you're any one of 32 coaches [trails off]. It doesn't bother me, the reality. Five, six, seven years ago, it wasn't the case. It's unfortunate. Jim's a good coach. We talk often. It's probably the reality of the profession."
To Lalonde's point about the B's defensive stinginess, in Sacco's first game at the helm, Boston took a 1-0 victory on home ice over the Utah Hockey Club. The Red Wings likely won't want to leave their scoring until the final five minutes of regulation if they want to hand Sacco his first loss as a head coach.
Holl Folds Back in for Johansson, Talbot Starts
The Red Wings will head into tonight's game with the same forward group they deployed in Thursday's win, but with Justin Holl returning to the blue line in place of rookie Albert Johansson.
"There's times Albert has looked overwhelmed in his game. It's been pretty evident," said Lalonde of . "We would love for him to force us into having tough decisions, where he's playing confident, he's playing with pace. His overall game, you see a little lack of confidence, if you will, at times. I think it shows up in slow play. There's things like fanning on eight-foot passes, fanning on pucks at the blue line. That's not him. That's a nervous, not-trying-to-make-a-mistake player."
In net, the Red Wings will return to Cam Talbot. Though starting, Talbot—who did take part in yesterday's optional skate—did not take part in morning skate, which Lalonde explained is part of the 37-year-old's process at this stage of his career. "It's kind of his routine," he said of Talbot. "He gets his work in the day before. His last handful of starts, he takes the morning off. Maintaining that—I don't want to say older body—but obviously, maintaining."
Where to Watch
Tonight's game (a 7pm scheduled puck drop) will be on its usual television/streaming homes: FanDuel Sports Network Detroit for in-market fans and ESPN+/Hulu for the out-of-town crowd. As ever, the game will be broadcast on the radio by 97.1 The Ticket.
Also from THN Detroit
Win over Isles Affords Red Wings the Luxury of Levity
Berggren, Raymond Break Out at Right Time for Red Wings
"Things Turn Quick" as Red Wings Pounce Late for 2-1 Comeback Win over the Islanders