Todd McLellan exposes major problem for Red Wings during losing skid
The Detroit Red Wings are suddenly struggling under new coach Todd McLellan, having lost 3-of-4 games and picking up only three points on their 4-game road trip.
Head coach Todd McLellan led the Detroit Red Wings to victory in 8 of his 1st 10 games since taking over from the terminated Derek Lalonde on December 26.
However, the Red Wings have suddenly entered another rough patch. Following a disappointing 6-3 loss at Little Caesars Arena to the lowly San Jose Sharks last week, they embarked on a 4-game road trip that began positively with a 5-2 win over the divisional foe Florida Panthers.
But since then, they've lost three straight games. They were beaten 5-1 by the divisional foe Tampa Bay Lightning, followed by a 4-1 loss to the Dallas Stars 24 hours later.
And last night, they were beaten 2-1 in overtime by the Philadelphia Flyers. Despite outshooting all three most recent opponents, they managed only a single goal in each of their respective games.
McLellan pointed to the fact that they've not been getting the kind of secondary scoring and second-chance opportunities - but that they've also earned more respect from their opposition.
But we've probably earned some respect, too, of some of the other teams now, and they may take us a little more serious, which is a great thing, and check a little harder.
Is the honeymoon period with Todd McLellan over?
While the Red Wings enjoyed an immediate boost when the coaching change was made, they've fallen back into the kinds of poor defensive habits that were rife under Lalonde.
Multiple blown defensive assignments doomed them against the Lightning and Stars, while they were also unable to gain any offensive traction in last night's loss to the Flyers; they had zero power play opportunities, meaning their 5v5 play must improve.
