Todd McLellan Does Not Hold Back After Red Wings Are Eliminated From Playoffs
Todd McLellan delivered a blunt assessment after Detroit’s season ended with a loss to the Devils, emphasizing accountability and the need for improvement.
There was no avoiding it this time. After a 5 to 3 loss on Saturday to the New Jersey Devils , the Detroit Red Wings were officially eliminated from playoff contention. And when it was over, head coach Todd McLellan did not search for excuses.
He owned it. The game ended their season. The message that followed made it clear there is still a long way to go.
A breakdown that defined the night The final minutes against New Jersey told the story. For McLellan, two nearly identical breakdowns made the difference in a game Detroit had within reach. “The first and fourth goals were identical,” McLellan said after the game.
“We had a defenseman pinch and did not have proper coverage. They score on a two-on-one rush. That is a critical part of the game plan.