Missing six regulars, the Detroit Red Wings needed others to raise their level of play.
That did not happen this weekend against struggling Chicago, resulting in a pair of losses and a squandered opportunity for the Red Wings.
“We had an opportunity against a team we thought we could beat twice, and we didn’t show up,” Red Wings captain Dylan Larkin said.
Sunday’s 6-2 loss at the United Center was particularly tough to take because the Red Wings did not respond from a bad game two nights earlier and were in done in by a pair of rookies with little NHL experience.
Pius Suter, in his sixth career game, scored his first three NHL goals. Kevin Lankinen, in his third career start, made 25 saves to beat Detroit for the second time.
Meanwhile, Tyler Bertuzzi, who scored a pair of power-play goals, was one of few Red Wings ready to play.
“We need more out of more people; both games in Chicago we didn’t have enough guys going,” coach Jeff Blashill said.
“Guys have to raise their games. It starts with guys who are regulars, and guys that get opportunities (because others are out) have to play at a high level. Too many of the regulars haven’t raised their game.”
Blashill did not want to single out any individual, but it was a particularly rough day for Anthony Mantha. His poor decision to try to clear the puck through the middle of the ice resulted in Connor Murphy’s goal that gave Chicago a 3-1 lead at 17:18 of the second period. Mantha then failed to cover Mattias Janmark at the net, resulting in a 4-1 lead 58 seconds into the third period.
That resulted in Mantha getting only one shift in the final 19 minutes.
“I think everything is related, any of the actions that have happened throughout the season, and then we make decisions as we’re in games, as to who to put out there,” Blashill said. “But to shoulder it on one person would not be fair. Our whole team has got to be better.”
The Red Wings (2-4-0) need to be better physically in games against Dallas Tuesday (8:30 p.m., Fox Sports Detroit) and Thursday (8:30 p.m., FSD Plus).
“We had a good second (period) and they picked up the physicality and started laying the body on us,” Larkin said. “We got to have guys go out there and play physical, play like they want to be here. We got to get on the forecheck and make their (defense) pay. They got some small, skilled forwards and we just let them do what they wanted. If we do that in Dallas -- don’t play hard, don’t play physical, we’re not engaged in battles -- it’s not going to go well.”
Blashill agreed.
“We weren’t much of a physical factor in the game and I thought in the first four games we were much better than that,” Blashill said. “That to me is an indicator of your compete level and your sacrifice level.”
The Red Wings were missing five players due to COVID protocol (Robby Fabbri, Filip Zadina, Sam Gagner, Adam Erne and Jon Merrill) and another who is day to day with an injury (Darren Helm).
“We have to turn it around before we go to Dallas or it’s going to snowball,” Larkin said. “They’re a good team waiting for us and we need to figure it out fast.”
More: Red Wings can’t overcome performances by rookies
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