Detroit Red Wings: Waves, outside noise, and turning pressure into fun
Detroit Red Wings’ Andrew Copp, J.T. Compher and coach Todd McLellan speak Sunday, April 5, 2026 in Detroit, after a 5-4 loss to the Minnesota Wild.
The Detroit Red Wings turned boos into cheers after rallying from a three-goal deficit in the third period.
But then, suddenly, the air was zapped from the Little Caesars Arena crowd on an inexplicable penalty from Patrick Kane, who had tied the score just minutes earlier.
The Minnesota Wild took advantage and scored with 14 seconds remaining on the ensuing power play, a dagger in the Wings’ playoff hopes with 1:51 to play en route a 5-4 win. The Wings’ loss further twisted the knife as they try to break a nine-year playoff drought − now the NHL’s longest active streak after the Buffalo Sabres clinched a postseason berth on Saturday night.
“It hurts,” McLellan said when asked about the ending. “It hurts. We get the comeback and we take a penalty 150 feet from our net not even in the play. It hurts.”
Kane was whistled for tripping Michigan alumnus Quinn Hughes away from the play − a mindless penalty that likely cost the Wings at least the one point they would have earned from getting to overtime.
But that was just one more example of poor discipline and energy from the Red Wings (40-29-8, 88 points), who have fallen to 10th in the Eastern Conference with five games to play, after leading their division as late as Jan. 25.
McLellan, after a fourth straight loss at home, didn’t mince words in his postgame press conference Sunday (video atop this page). A sampling of his thoughts:
On disparity in play between the second and third periods
“My thoughts, I guess to put it, gently, is it’s really disappointing. Fifteen seconds in, we win a draw and we’re getting scored on because we − what word do I use, lollygag? − around and don’t advance the puck. So now it’s in our net, and our team right now, as soon as it doesn’t go our way, we crumble for a while and then we pick ourselves up off the mat, but it’s too late and we did it again today.
“Pattern.”
On handling what Andrew Copp called ‘outside noise’ and playoff drought
“Well, outside noise, if we’re reading and buying into all of that, then shame on us, maybe that’s part of our mental resilience. We can’t worry about what goes on out there, we’ve got to worry about what goes on in there. And we had a little chat between the second and third and that was made quite clear to them. And then we come out and respond.
“But the consistency. We’re like a wave, we crest and then crash, crest and then crash. And it has to change.”
On squandering home games
“I didn’t mind our first period. I thought we missed the net and had shots blocked.
“We have a lead, we get in between periods. … We win the opening [faceoff], which is always important when you have possession right away and, bang it’s in your net. A couple more mistakes. A horrendous change by two defensemen at the same time and all of a sudden it’s four and then you can feel the energy go from excitement in the building to disappointment in the building.”
McLellan lamented the inability to quickly overcome mistakes.
“I don’t think we stop the bleeding when we start the bleed. And is that confidence, I don’t know, I think that’s mental fortitude, the ability to dig in and respond when it’s not going well. If we lacked confidence, did we find it between the second and third then? And come out and play that type of game? We just have to stop the bleeding when it starts.”
