Detroit Red Wings go into All Star Break on a Hot Streak
Jan 20, 2015; Detroit, MI, USA; Detroit Red Wings center Pavel Datsyuk (13) and Minnesota Wild right wing Justin Fontaine (14) battle for the puck in the third period at Joe Louis Arena. Detroit won 5-4 in an overtime shootout. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports
The Detroit Red Wings are going into the All Star break one of the hottest teams in the league. The team is on a 5 game win streak which is tied for the current longest with the Winnipeg Jets. While the five wins haven’t been the prettiest by any means. The team had to come back from three goals down against the Buffalo Sabres who are arguably one of the worst teams in the league. Then the following game saw them give up a 4 goal lead against Minnesota and they ended up having to win in overtime.
However with those wins, there were very good wins that gave fans boasting rights. They beat the Nashville Predators 5-2 and then pulled out a 3-2 win against the St. Louis Blues. While Nashville was down goalie Pekka Rinne who has been lighting up the league all season it is still two points at the end of the day.
The All Star break starts Thursday and the team won’t return to action until Tuesday when they take on the Florida Panthers in Florida. With the break players will get an opportunity to rest and recharge for the second half of the season.
This whole season has been called surprising by many people, including head coach Mike Babcock. While the hot streaks, great start, and big wins over power teams are nice, this team has to stay on point in the second half of the season. February alone will be a very difficult test for the Red Wings as the schedule alone is a long one consisting of 11 games and only two of them are at home in the Joe.
Midway into February the Red Wings go on the dreaded out west road trip where they will face off against the best in the west. A back to back with the L.A. Kings and Anaheim Ducks ends with a game against the San Jose Sharks before heading back East to take on the Predators. The Red Wings don’t return home until March 4th when the Rangers come into town.
Now they don’t need to go on a major winning streak and beat every single team they play, especially out west, those teams are the best for a reason. However, it would be nice to see them snag a win from the injury riddled Kings and before they go out west getting wins against Colorado and Arizona would obviously help them. The month of February could easily make or break the Red Wings.
Goaltender Jimmy Howard who was the only Red Wings selected to the All Star game won’t be going due to injury. As the draft for teams nears, in fact it is tonight at 8pm, and there is not a single Detroit Red Wings players that is going there to represent the franchise. Which how you have an All Star game without a player from one of the not only original six team, but hands down best franchises in the past 20 years I don’t know.
Alas, that is another rant that involves so much more than just a simple Red Wings fan being mad that their team isn’t represented in the All Star game. I’ll be watching some of the game and the rookies skill competition, but as a fan I’m not highly into the game this year and haven’t been for a long time. I’m not saying you shouldn’t watch it, but I’m also not saying you should watch it.
Are you guys surprised by the Red Wings this season? Are you excited for the second half of the season? Let us know below!