Expectations for the Detroit Red Wings were not very high entering the 2019-20 season, despite the positivity from inside the locker room throughout training camp and preseason. The team is off to a 3-4-0 start through seven games, a step up from last year when they wandered blindfolded in the dark before notching their first win eight games into the campaign.
Even though their record at this point of the season is better than last year, they have had several disappointing games, specifically the last three, in which they gave up a combined 15 goals.
(Editor’s Note: the rest of this article was written before the game against Calgary)
To this point, the Red Wings have found continued success from their top line of Tyler Bertuzzi, Dylan Larkin and Anthony Mantha—the trio has accounted for 11 of the team’s 17 goals this season—and surprisingly, it’s been the checking line of Justin Abdelkader, Jacob de la Rose and Darren Helm providing what little offense has been leftover.