Crisis of Confidence? Red Wings Don't Think So
Despite their postseason hopes being on the brink, the Detroit Red Wings don't believe that they're ready to be written off.
Follow Michael Whitaker On X Despite saying all the right things, the Detroit Red Wings ’ actions at such a critical point in the season continue to make those words ring hollow. For the fifth time in their last seven games, the Red Wings fell behind their opponent by at least three goals, this time Sunday afternoon against the visiting Minnesota Wild. The Wild, who trailed 1–0 after the opening 20 minutes, scored just 18 seconds into the game's second frame and went on to score four goals in a period for the first time this season.
They also withstood a furious three-goal comeback attempt by the Red Wings in the third, thanks in part to a late power-play goal from sniper Kirill Kaprizov, who completed his sixth career hat trick, ultimately winning 5-4. However, for the first 40 minutes of the game, the Red Wings officially managed just eight total shots. Meanwhile, the Wild managed to score four times in a 20-minute frame for the first time this season.
What kind of things are being said amongst the players on the Red Wings bench during that stretch? “Trying to stay up, like don’t let it kill you,” forward Andrew Copp said. “‘We’re fine, we’re fine, get the next one, get the next one,’ things like that.
Yeah, you’re gonna get down 3-1, you’re gonna get down 2-1, they’re gonna score to tie it up. " "We can’t let that impact the next shift, just try and have that even keel mentality as much as possible. But when your confidence is wavering, it gets harder and harder to do that.