The Detroit Red Wings followed up each of their last three losses with a victory. They’ll look to keep that trend going when they host the reeling Nashville Predators on Wednesday night.
Detroit rallied from a two-goal, third-period deficit to beat Columbus in overtime on Saturday but couldn’t pull off the same feat Monday, losing 4-3 at New Jersey.
The Red Wings trailed 3-1 after the first period. They had 17 more shots on goal than the Devils in the last two periods but couldn’t even the score.
“We had a really good chance to win that hockey game. We pushed hard, we had a lot of looks and just didn’t bury the tire and get it to overtime,” captain Dylan Larkin said. “I feel like if we replay that period again, we have a better outcome. I believe that. We had a pretty solid period where we put our foot on the gas pedal.”
Larkin scored on a rebound midway through the third period to pull his team within a goal. Against the Blue Jackets, the Red Wings scored twice in the final 10 minutes prior to Alex DeBrincat’s overtime game-winner. There was no such magic Monday.
“There’s probably going to be a lot of talk about what we didn’t get or didn’t find down the stretch but in my opinion, it’s what we gave up,” head coach Todd McLellan said. “There was too much free, especially early in the game. … give the guys credit for sticking with it and fighting back but we can’t give up goals for free and we did.”
Larkin and DeBrincat lead Detroit with 25 points apiece. The Red Wings won both matchups with the Predators last season.
Nashville has the worst record in the league after going 2-9-2 over its last 13 games. The Predators were pounded by Florida, 8-3, and have been outscored 15-3 during their current three-game losing streak.
“It’s just a horrible game,” Nashville captain Roman Josi said. “Right from the first period, we just played poorly. I don’t know, it’s hard to explain. We have a good effort against Colorado (a 3-0 loss) and we come back with that. I wish I knew why, but it’s not acceptable. We can’t play like that and think we can win.”
Nashville gave up a goal in the first 15 seconds against the Avalanche. Florida grabbed the lead 11 seconds into Monday’s contest.
“It falls on all of us,” coach Andrew Brunette said. “You’re relying on a good start. We talked about it and we’re just having a hard time grabbing it.”
The Predators tied it at 2-all midway through the period but Florida quickly scored two goals to regain control. The Panthers also scored the last three goals after Nashville pulled within 5-3 early in the third.
“We haven’t had too many of these types of games this year, probably the second one we’ve had,” Brunette said. “Some inexcusable decision making on a couple of guys and you can’t come back again from two goals.”
Filip Forsberg leads the Predators with 16 points.
