Opinion
3 min read

Wings Set to Soar or Stumble in Vancouver Showdown

As the Detroit Red Wings prepare to face off against the Vancouver Canucks at Rogers Arena, fans are bracing for what could be a pivotal moment in the team's season. The upcoming game, scheduled for February 16th, is more than just another mark on the calendar; it's a chance for redemption and a test of resilience.


Feb 13, 2023; Vancouver, British Columbia, CAN; Detroit Red Wings defenseman Filip Hronek (17) checks Vancouver Canucks forward Andrei Kuzmenko (96) in the first period at Rogers Arena. Mandatory Credit: Bob Frid-USA TODAY Sports

The Red Wings' recent performance has been a mixed bag of highs and lows. On December 23rd, they showcased their offensive prowess with an impressive shootout win over the Philadelphia Flyers. The 7-6 victory was marked by an explosive first period where they netted five goals, demonstrating their ability to dominate early in the game. However, this high-scoring affair also exposed defensive vulnerabilities as they allowed six goals.


In stark contrast was their December 24th encounter with the New Jersey Devils at Prudential Center. Despite putting up a valiant effort and securing two goals on 24 shots, DET fell short with a final score of 2-3. Their goaltending was solid with an impressive save percentage of one hundred percent but ultimately wasn't enough to clinch victory.


Feb 13, 2023; Vancouver, British Columbia, CAN; Detroit Red Wings goalie Ville Husso (35) makes a save on a penalty shot taken by Vancouver Canucks forward Phillip Di Giuseppe (34) in the third period at Rogers Arena. Red Wings won 6-1. Mandatory Credit: Bob Frid-USA TODAY Sports

The most concerning data point comes from their December 21st clash against the Winnipeg Jets where they suffered a loss with only two goals scored against five conceded. This game highlighted significant issues: DET had ten giveaways and lost faceoff win percentage stood at forty-four percent – both areas that need tightening up if they're going to compete effectively against VAN.


Looking ahead to VAN, it's clear that DET needs to capitalize on powerplay opportunities better than they have done recently; zero powerplay goals from three chances against NJD isn't going to cut it when facing Canucks' special teams units.


Feb 13, 2023; Vancouver, British Columbia, CAN; Vancouver Canucks goalie Collin Delia (60) makes a save against the Detroit Red Wings in the second period at Rogers Arena. Mandatory Credit: Bob Frid-USA TODAY Sports

VAN will not make things easy for DET; playing as guests in Rogers Arena is always challenging due to home ice advantage and fan support for Canucks. However, if Detroit can harness some of that explosive energy we saw earlier in December while shoring up defensively and improving special teams play – there’s potential for them not just soar but dominate on enemy ice.


Fans eager to see whether Detroit can rise above recent inconsistencies should tune into ESPN+ or BSDET channel 663 on February 16th at 10:00 PM Eastern Time (ET) when these two teams collide under Canadian skies.

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