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The Detroit Red Wings were in crisis just three nights earlier when their season hit a low point in an embarrassing loss to Nashville.
Realistically, out of the playoff picture, and with several players unlikely to be around past the April 12 trade deadline and / or next season, their entire year may have collapsed.
Instead, they responded with arguably their two best games of 2021.
On Sunday, the Red Wings repeated their performance 24 hours before, beating Columbus 4-1 to sweep the weekend series at Little Caesars Arena.
“I thought it was probably our most complete effort from start to finish of any game this season,” said coach Jeff Blashill. “I just thought we were maintaining our failure a lot more before, and because of that I thought the ice was tilted towards their end for much of the game. That’s the difference in the game, if you can get it behind them and play their end and make a strong forward check, have them defend. They tear it apart, you get it stuck in their throat.
“I thought at our end, when they had the puck, we competed extremely hard. We thought it was really important to win the battle for the work ethic. I was really proud of the guys for how hard they played.
A day after tying 22 shots at the season low, the Red Wings set a new standard by limiting the Blue Jackets to 17 shots – and little chance of quality.
They did it largely by biking and grinding in the offensive zone, keeping Columbus on his heels.
“It started with the first period last night. We postponed it until tonight, ”said Dylan Larkin. “Our D did a great job getting the pucks through and moving them widely and using each other. The Luke Glendening line (with Darren Helm, Adam Erne) set an example for the rest of us. These guys have been leading the way for a while and they just work.
The Red Wings weren’t like the same team that lost 7-1 to the Predators on Thursday.
“I really like our guys. I like the competitiveness, the self-responsibility, ”said Blashill. “They looked at each other in the mirror after that game and came to practice on Friday and trained in the tail. They want to be a better team than our record. They were embarrassed on Thursday and did an incredible job of responding.
Pickard the “ X factor ”
Larkin called Calvin Pickard an “X factor” after stopping 37 of 39 shots this weekend for his first NHL wins since November 2018. He was put on duty due to Jonathan Bernier’s injury and struggling with Thomas Greiss.
“The picks on both nights were rock solid, gave up no rebounds, swallowed it all,” said Larkin.
“One of the great things you have to do as a goalkeeper is stop the ones you are supposed to stop. He did it all weekend, ”Blashill said. “And you have to make big saves in big times, and he did.
“The other thing is he’s playing the puck really well. We’ve had a lot of free fumbles because of the way he’s playing the puck.
Pickard spent the season primarily on the taxi team. Before this weekend, he had only played one game for Grand Rapids and had relieved Greiss twice.
“I read something last week that (Toronto goalie) Jack Campbell was one of the best teammates, and I know Jack pretty well, being from Michigan (Port Huron), playing with him in a few (events) of the American team, ”Larkin told me. “I read what his teammates had to say, and I thought about Pixie and how he’s handled this season, his attitude every day coming to the ice.
“It just lights up the room. He’s such a great guy, he’s a worker. He will do anything in practice, stay away until the last (shooter) is there. Always smiling, always have a joke or a one-liner. Just a great teammate, a great person and a great professional. We’re all pretty excited for him. We know he will be ready and play for us.
Build confidence
Former first-round picks Evgeny Svechnikov and Michael Rasmussen scored big goals. Svechnikov opened the scoring with a wrist shot in front of Elvis Merzlikins at 10:40 am of the first period. Rasmussen broke a tie 2:51 behind for third with his first goal in 20 games this season.
“With these guys, whether (the puck) comes in or not, that’s the process of your game,” Larkin said. “The way you play without the puck, do the little things right, compete, win battles. It was difficult to play against Ras. So was Geno. He’s a big, strong guy, he has a great photo, which you saw.
“It’s good to see them rewarded. Confidence is a dangerous thing, so I hope they can continue to have this good feeling.
Ryan’s Injury Update
Bobby Ryan has missed the last two periods with an upper body injury.
“I don’t think it’s anything really serious, but that doesn’t mean he won’t potentially be out for the next game (Tuesday in Florida),” said Blashill. “I won’t know until I see him tomorrow.”
After: Red Wings repeat strong defensive performance
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