Red Wings coach Derek Lalonde speaks frankly after badly-needed win

PUBLICATION

Jack Sutherland
November 22, 2024 (11:44)

SHARE THIS STORY

Detroit Red Wings head coach Derek Lalonde spoke frankly after his team picked up a valuable pair of points during Thursday night's game against the Islanders in Detroit.

Just when it seemed like the Detroit Red Wings and New York Islanders were heading for overtime, forward Lucas Raymond stepped up in a major way by scoring the game-winner with 52 seconds left.

And in doing so, he helped to take some of the intense focus off head coach Derek Lalonde in the process.

The Red Wings head coach had been feeling the heat in recent days, especially after his team's 0-2-1 road trip in California which included losses to the lowly Anaheim Ducks and San Jose Sharks.

He stopped short of saying there was a general feeling of relief, instead noting that the Red Wings got the result they deserved in the end.

I don't know if it's relief, I just think we got rewarded. Things turn quick. It's important.

(The) guys were pretty good in staying in the moment. You could make the narrative anyway you want.

We're a point out of a playoff spot, we have points in two straight games.

It doesn't feel good coming off a road trip like that and the way the road trip played out, (but) we easily could have had five points on that trip but we got three.

Thursday's game started ominously with the Islanders taking an early 1-0 lead and holding it until late in the third period.

However, the Red Wings not only tied the score with under five minutes left thanks to Jonatan Berggren but took the lead with 52 seconds left thanks to Raymond's third goal of the year.

Lalonde and the Red Wings will enjoy the victory before they turn their attention to their upcoming slate of games, which includes four of their next five games on home ice.