The Detroit Red Wings have been stuck in a tough losing streak, having lost five games in a row, with each game being decided by just one goal.
They will look to end the losing streak when they play the Buffalo Sabres on Monday night.
On Saturday, Detroit lost 2-1 at home to Colorado.
“No one is happy in the locker room. Why should we?” said defenseman Moritz Seider. “We’re losing games that are winnable. Just can’t find ways to get it done. Obviously it’s really frustrating but we shouldn’t be lying to ourselves. We need to be better.”
Last season, the Red Wings went through a seven-game losing streak in February and March but were still in the playoff race until the very last game of the regular season. During that stretch, they were outscored 36-12.
“We had that stretch last year where we were bad. We earned that losing streak,” coach Derek Lalonde said. “This feels a little different. Bottom line is we’ve got to do more to flip these games.”
Lately, the Red Wings’ main source of goals has been Lucas Raymond, who scored their only goal on Saturday with a tip-in of a Dylan Larkin shot. Raymond has eight goals in the last nine games.
Other forwards, like Patrick Kane (three goals in 22 games), Vladimir Tarasenko (four goals in 26 games), and J.T. Compher (three goals in 26 games) have not been performing as expected.
“A lot of frustrated guys in the room,” Compher said. “It’s got to be our group of guys to find a way out of it. It’s there for the taking. A lot of games, it’s right there, but it’s got to be the guys to step up and get the job done.”
The Sabres are also struggling. Buffalo is currently on a six-game losing streak (0-4-2).
Most of those losses have come at home, including a 5-2 defeat to Utah on Saturday. During this losing streak, Buffalo has not scored a second-period goal.
“I think we’re starting games really well and I don’t know if it’s a bit of complacency or what it is, but we’ve got to fix the second periods,” forward Jason Zucker said. “It seems like we come out in the third and get a bit of that fire back and start playing again. We’ve got to fix it.”
Before this losing streak, Buffalo had won three games in a row and had a winning record. The Sabres are hoping to end their 13-year playoff drought. Detroit has the second-longest playoff drought, which has lasted for a franchise-record eight years.
The good news is one of these teams will get a much-needed win.
“We just need to get back to executing the way we know how to,” Zucker said. “It’s not a care thing, this room cares. This room has a lot of guys that care and want to do the right thing. It’s about doing it time and time again.”
The Red Wings and Sabres have each won one game in their season series. Buffalo won the first game 5-3 at home on October 26, and Detroit won the second game 2-1 at home on November 2.
