The Red Wings are a good team.
First time I’ve been able to confidently say that in quite some time. Sure they’ve got some issues, but I think it’s fair to say this group should be a playoff team come April. The Wings have points in five straight games and are again punching down in the Atlantic Division standings.
Detroit’s most-recent win was a brilliant 39-save shutout from John Gibson in Vancouver Monday night. I’ll admit that I was a sleepy bear about halfway through that game (damn 10pm starts) and did not get to witness the Gibson redemption party in all of its glory. Hard to think of a player who needed a performance like that. We can call a spade a spade. Gibson has been not good. It’s okay to say it! I digress, it’s a big win for him. I can’t think of a greater thing to happen now than one of Detroit’s goalies (Griffins included) going Demigod mode.
Hey speaking of mythological or divine beings and the Griffins, Sebastian Cossa is 10-1-0-2 this season. He is one of if not the best goalie in the AHL right now. He is one of the reasons his club can post ludicrous stats like this:
“The Griffins have continued their franchise-record start with a 19-1-0-1 ledger and 39 points through 21 games. The 37 points through 20 games was the third-best start in the 90-year history of the AHL and the 18 wins tied for the second-most ever.”
Probably not much left for Cossa to prove in the AHL other than show that he has longevity. 10 years ago I would probably be screaming for a call-up. But here, now, on this beautiful Internet machine in December of 2025, I am choosing to believe that this is a good problem to have. Cossa’s time in the NHL will come. Maybe even this season! Anyway, Griffins are a damn-good team.
Meanwhile overseas, kinda seems like Olympic hockey is in flux. I’m sure it will get worked out. If I recall correctly, same sort of issues happened in Sochi. Apparently the ice sucks in Milan, and Bill Daly says the NHL won’t participate if that doesn’t get sorted out. Fun.
Back here on this side of the pond now… Remember what I said about 10 years ago and all that? If you were to tell me 10 years ago that Patrick Kane would be playing for the Red Wings today, I would simply go off the grid. Well, how about now:
“‘I would love nothing more than (for) my career to have, like, a second chapter,’ Kane said, ‘and not just be viewed as a player that played for the Blackhawks. I mean obviously we played a lot of meaningful games there, and had some great years and a lot of great moments. But it would be great to create some of those memories here, too.’”
via Max Bultman
Kane’s a Detroiter now and the dude’s still got “it” in his game. Six points in his last five. Chasing history at 37. Good vibes with the team. It works for me.
And on that note, the Red Wings have three games left this week. One of them will be in the Windy City. Starts tonight in Calgary then a quick turn to Edmonton for a back-to-back. The Red Wings are at the top but let’s not forget just how tight this race is… and we’re not even to the “home stretch” yet. We’re also still trying to figure out what we will be sending to VAN for Quinn Hughes! (scream face emoji!!!!)
Also, Monday’s game in Nashville is no longer set for 8:00 PM ET. It will now be played at 2:00 PM ET. The perfect time to watch a regular season hockey game. 🙂↕️
Just keep winning games more than losing them. Bold strategy. So bold that it just might work.
