The Detroit Red Wings, who have been struggling lately, will face the Ottawa Senators on Thursday night.
The Red Wings are 3-4-3 in their last 10 games, while the Senators have a 3-5-2 record during the same stretch.
Detroit lost 3-2 in overtime to Boston on Tuesday. This was their second consecutive overtime loss and their fifth straight loss by one goal. The Red Wings were leading 2-1 in the third period, but Justin Brazeau scored a power-play goal to tie the game at 9:32. Pavel Zacha then scored the game-winning goal just 2:15 into overtime.
The Red Wings’ penalty kill has been a major problem this season. With a success rate of 65.3%, they have the worst penalty kill in the NHL and are on track to break the all-time record for the worst penalty-killing rate, set by the Los Angeles Kings in the 1979-80 season at 68.2%.
“Sometimes you just got to find a way, really,” said Detroit penalty killer Tyler Motte. “That’s what killing is all about. Finding a way to get clears, get blocks.”
Lucas Raymond scored both of the Red Wings’ goals in the loss.
“It’s frustrating because we are doing a lot of good things,” said Detroit coach Derek Lalonde about the team’s recent performance. “We keep (getting points), again that’s points in six of the last eight (games). It’s a pretty good pace, but I think there are stretches in our game that we play really well, and you got to want it more, but we self-inflict (mistakes).”
The Senators are coming off a three-day break after losing in a shootout 4-3 to the Ducks in Anaheim on Sunday. That loss completed a three-game road trip through California, where Ottawa went 1-1-1.
Captain Brady Tkachuk scored two goals in the loss to Anaheim.
“At this point, all we care about is winning and whatever it takes to win,” Tkachuk said. “We have full belief in this group that things are going to turn for us, and it’s just time to dig in and dig deep. The answer’s in that room and we’re going to find it and be the best versions of ourselves when we do.”
Ottawa had been trailing by a goal and fought back to tie the game three times in regulation.
“I’m really happy with how we responded from the adversity throughout the game,” said goaltender Linus Ullmark, who made 31 saves. “We didn’t break, we bent, and we came back and we played a really good game, and we finished off on a good note. I think we can bring this with us into our next game.”
Red Wings forward Patrick Kane has missed the last five games due to an upper-body injury, and it is unclear if he will play on Thursday.
Detroit is also missing its top two goalies. Cam Talbot is out with a lower-body injury, and Alex Lyon is on the injured list with an undisclosed injury. Ville Husso made 32 saves on Tuesday, and Sebastian Cossa, who was recently called up from the Red Wings’ AHL affiliate in Grand Rapids, was his backup.
