Detroit Red Wings coach Derek Lalonde gets honest after latest win
Red Wings coach Derek Lalonde has been under the microscope of late, but the Red Wings have responded with several defensively sound performances and multiple valuable points in the standings.
Detroit Red Wings head coach Derek Lalonde had been feeling some considerable heat in recent weeks, especially after the disastrous 0-2-1 road trip in California that included losses to lottery bound Anaheim and San Jose.
But what's followed is arguably Detroit's best stretch of defensive hockey so far in the year. In the last four games, they've surrendered a total of six goals combined, including last night's 2-1 overtime win over the Calgary Flames.
Lalonde said that while he wanted to keep Calgary from the scoresheet,, it was a complete game for his team.
Really wanted the shutout tonight, just the way we played in our little stretch of hockey lately. We took too many penalties. Four was just too much. It was just a matter of time.
We did a good job on that kill, but what a complete game, start to finish. Our push early in the third, we were on top of our game and that was a good game.
Goaltender Cam Talbot has lent a hand in Detroit's wins, putting together several find performances and giving the Red Wings a solid option in net.
He thinks that their recent tight defensive play has demonstrated that they're learning how to win the kind of low-scoring games that defensively sound teams are known for.
I think that we've shown that we can play these games. We knew that coming into this game, Calgary, they're an aggressive team. They forecheck hard. They tend to try to just outwork their opponents and grind them down.
And we bent, but we didn't break for the most part all night. I thought if anything, we kind of took it to them for most of the game.
And then we give up that late one and you can do one of two things. You can either fold and give the game back to them, or you can come out in overtime and get the game-winner. So, we did a good job mentally of not letting that one get to us and finishing the win.
POLL |
NOVEMBRE 28 | 64 ANSWERS Detroit Red Wings coach Derek Lalonde gets honest after latest win Have the Red Wings become a more defensively sound team of late, or is it just a fluke stretch? |
It's real, they know how to play defensively sound | 28 | 43.8 % |
It's a fluke, they'll go back to their old habits | 36 | 56.3 % |
List of polls |
|
53 minutes ago | By Jack Sutherland Michael Rasmussen points to major problem in Detroit Red Wings' 4-3 loss to Montreal Canadiens |
|
1 hour ago | By Jack Sutherland Red Wings captain Dylan Larkin upset over lack of finish |
|
12 hours ago | By Jack Sutherland Derek Lalonde identifies main culprits behind frustrating 4-3 Red Wings' loss to divisional foe Canadiens |
|
13 hours ago | By Jack Sutherland Red Wings allow Montreal Canadiens to break an embarrassing NHL single-season record against them |
|
15 hours ago | By Jack Sutherland Detroit Red Wings' Moritz Seider robs Canadiens of a goal with incredible defensive play |
|
16 hours ago | By Jack Sutherland Defenseman Albert Johansson reveals his plans for stepping in for injured Red WIngs' Simon Edvinsson |
|
17 hours ago | By Jack Sutherland Derek Lalonde gets honest about defenseman Simon Edvinsson's timeline for return |
|
21 hours ago | By Jack Sutherland Shorthanded Detroit Red Wings unveil line combinations after Simon Edvinsson's injury |
Previously on Red Wings Insider