Is offense, defense, or goaltending the biggest concern for Detroit? For the Detroit Red Wings, the first game after a holiday break looked a lot like the ones that had preceded it. After a 6-3 defeat tonight in St. Paul at the hands of the Minnesota Wild, Detroit has now dropped nine of its last 11 games. The Red Wings continue to suffer from major, ill-timed defensive blunders, and Wednesday, Detroit appeared unable to keep up with Minnesota's counter-attack heavy offense. Put together, it wasn't a winning combination. The three-day Christmas layoff had seemed to come at the right time for the Red Wings, who looked desperate for some time off as they neared the end of a grueling month of January, but their first game after that break offered little reason for optimism. Now 16-15-4, Detroit needs to find a way to restore stability to its defensive zone structure or its playoff hopes (already in serious jeopardy thanks to the team's December swoon) will evaporate in a hurry. Dec 27, 2023; Saint Paul, Minnesota, USA; Minnesota Wild goaltender Filip Gustavsson (32) makes a save on Detroit Red Wings center Andrew Copp (18) in the first period at Xcel Energy Center. [https://thehockeynews.com/.image/c_fit,h_600,w_600/MjAzMjE4OTY4NTQ5MjcxMTA3/usatsi_22180363.jpg] Dec 27, 2023; Saint Paul, Minnesota, USA; Minnesota Wild goaltender Filip Gustavsson (32) makes a save on Detroit Red Wings center Andrew Copp (18) in the first period at Xcel Energy Center. FIRST PERIOD The first got off to a disastrous start for the Red Wings in the defensive zone. Before the game was a minute old, the Red Wings suffered another of the calamitous breakdowns that have defined their month of December. The result was Kirll Kaprizov and Matt Boldy (hardly the two Wild players you'd want to afford an opportunity if you had to) all alone behind the Detroit defense. Kaprizov fed Boldy at the top of the crease, and Boldy re-directed past James Reimer. In the game's opening four minutes, Reimer faced four one-on-one Minnesota opportunities, and Detroit was fortunate to escape trailing only 1-0. However, the Red Wings (who had traveled to St. Paul on game day, an abnormality) found their legs as the first progressed. At the period's 6:32 mark, Patrick Kane and Alex DeBrincat combined to force a neutral zone turnover, then DeBrincat led Kane into the offensive zone with a pass. Kane snuck a wrist shot past Filip Gustavsson short side. Minnesota had the period's lone power play (a Ben Chiarot hook) but failed to convert. Meanwhile, it was the Red Wings who had the advantage in shots on goal (9-8). SECOND PERIOD For the second successive period, the Wild got out to a fast start with Marcus Johansson providing the hosts with a 2-1 lead, cleaning up the rebound after Ryan Hartman knifed through the heart of the Detroit defense. The Red Wings' best offensive opportunity of the period came with roughly five minutes remaining. Detroit's top line of DeBrincat, Kane, and Dylan Larkin enjoyed an extended stay in the Minnesota zone. Kane sent a feed across the slot for DeBrincat, who fired a one-timer that deflected off the knob of Gustavsson's stick and out of harm's way. Not long after, Jonatan Berggren drew a hooking minor against Jon Merrill, but Detroit failed to capitalize on the ensuing power play. With just seconds to play, the Wild nearly doubled their lead on a two-on-one chance for Johansson and Marco Rossi. Johansson feathered a pass in for Rossi, but Reimer made an excellent stop to hold the game at 2-1 entering the second intermission. The Wild enjoyed a 13-9 advantage in shots on goal for the frame. THIRD PERIOD With Jake Middleton in the box for hooking, Alex DeBrincat tied the game with his 16th goal of the season—a one-timed power play blast from Shayne Gostisbehere and J.T. Compher. The goal game 2:43 into the third. However, the tied score wouldn't last two minutes. Johansson led another rush for Minnesota, finding Hartman with a feed to the weak side. Hartman buried the chance to give the Wild a 3-2 advantage. 52 seconds later, Marcus Foligno buried a rebound from point blank range to stretch Minnesota's advantage to 4-2. It was not a tremendous display of rebound control from Reimer, but the Red Wings defense was ill-positioned to box out as well. A minute and change later, Johansson finished off another rush opportunity to make it 5-2 with the Wild's third goal in two minutes and seven seconds. Exactly eight minutes into the frame, Daniel Sprong stopped the Wild run with a powerful rush wrister of his own, beating Gustavsson high glove. As the clock ticked under six minutes to play, Kaprizov deflected a Dakota Mermis point shot past Reimer from just beyond the crease to make it 6-3 Wild and all but end any hope of a Red Wing comeback. In the end, Detroit did not bother to pull Reimer for an extra-attacker, the team's fate already sealed. ALSO FROM THN DETROIT From the Archive: Robitaille, Hull, Hasek Spark Red-Hot Wings [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/detroit-red-wings/features/from-the-archive-robitaille-hull-hasek-spark-red-hot-wings] Nate Danielson Scores and Assists in Team Canada's World Junior Opening Win Over Finland [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/detroit-red-wings/news/nate-danielson-scores-and-assists-in-team-canadas-world-junior-opening-win-over-finland] Why Dylan Larkin's Public Call-Out of NHL Player Safety Shows a Unique Leadership [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/detroit-red-wings/analysis/why-dylan-larkins-public-call-out-of-nhl-player-safety-shows-a-unique-leadership] Red Wings 2-Devils 3: Meier Leads New Jersey to Comeback Win over Detroit [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/detroit-red-wings/news/red-wings-2-devils-3-meier-leads-new-jersey-to-comeback-win-over-detroit] Red Wings Call Up Simon Edvinsson; How Can He Provide a Spark? [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/detroit-red-wings/news/red-wings-call-up-simon-edvinsson-how-can-he-provide-a-spark] Kane, Larkin, Seider Power Red Wings Through Chaos and Dubious Goaltending: Red Wings-Flyers Statistical Review [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/detroit-red-wings/analysis/kane-larkin-seider-power-red-wings-through-chaos-and-dubious-goaltending-red-wings-flyers-statistical-review] Red Wings 7, Flyers 6: Patrick Kane Carries Detroit Through Chaos and Out of Losing Streak [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/detroit-red-wings/news/red-wings-7-flyers-6-patrick-kane-carries-detroit-through-chaos-and-out-of-losing-streak] Another Disheartening Week of Red Wings Hockey, Larkin Shows Leadership on Player Safety, and Team USA WJC Excitement: The Silky Mitten State Episode Nine [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/detroit-red-wings/features/another-disheartening-week-of-red-wings-hockey-larkin-shows-leadership-on-player-safety-and-team-usa-wjc-excitement-the-silky-mitten-state-episode-nine]
