"Win Scrappy" Todd McLellan Points To Red Wings Identity

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The Detroit Red Wings bent but didn't break against the San Jose Sharks on Saturday evening, rallying from a 3-1 deficit in the third period to earn a 4-3 shootout victory at Little Caesars Arena.

Emmitt Finnie and Alex DeBrincat scored third-period goals for the host Red Wings, who got the lone shootout goal from Lucas Raymond.

For the Red Wings, it capped a lengthy homestand that saw them play seven of their first eight games of the season in the friendly confines of home ice; they now embark on the road for four straight contests. 

There was certainly room for improvement in the standings, according to head coach Todd McLellan, but he also pointed to an important benefit of playing so many games at home.

"What didn't we do well enough at home? We didn't get enough points in the bank, for the amount of games we played, we'd like to have more stockpiled," he said. "But I think it allowed us to practice well. You always practice better at home...the practice time is way more valuable than it is on the road." 

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The Red Wings now head out for a four-game Western road swing that begins on Tuesday against the Seattle Kraken, a club that beat them earlier in the month. 

What kind of team does Detroit need to be in order to have a successful road trip? The kind of squad that wins games the hard way.

"Just establishing somewhat of an identity," McLellan said of what must happen on the road. "We're going to have to be a checking team; we have to be. That's who we're going to turn into for now, and win scrappy." 

The Red Wings will take on the Seattle Kraken in their next game at Climate Pledge Arena on Tuesday evening. 

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