Red Wings Top Dogs in the Daigle Heading Into 2023 Playoffs

Here at the Detroit Free Press, we have seen a lot of MRFHL Red Wings hockey, and we are comfortable declaring this as the best regular season in recent memory. That much isn’t in question. The only question now, is can this team translate regular season success to the playoffs?

The Red Wings finish this 2022-23 season with 52 wins, 110 points, a +40 goal differential, and, for the first time in GM Austin Evans’ tenure, a Daigle division banner. Leaguewide the team’s 110 points rank 3^rd.

Their reward for a hard-fought season – a 1^st round matchup with the division rival Montreal Canadiens, who finish the season with 44 wins, 99 points, and a +4 goal differential.

So how did these teams get here?

This iteration of the Red Wings, like the past three playoff teams, has been carried offensively by Connor McDavid. Injuries cost him 6 games but he still finished with great numbers across the board – 38 goals, 93 points, +9, 31 powerplay points, and 2 SHG. However, unlike previous iterations, this team has has lacked an Achilles Heel. Pavelski 32 goals/77 points, Meier 25 goals/74 points, and Elias Lindholm 39 goals/71 points/+18 have been huge and big seasons from Svechnikov 24/62, Faulk 8/41 in 76 games, Freddy Gaudreau 44/41/+19, and Ehlers 15/28 in 35 games were instrumental to the team’s success. A surprise breakout from Hakanpaa helped stabilize the top four defense when Heiskanen’s play fell off and Brady Skjei was playing his way out of town.

From top to bottom everyone’s performance ranged from above expectation to slightly below expectation, the offense was high end, the defense was above average, and the special teams were average instead of awful. Burns and Faulk, the team’s top defenders, carried separate pairs and anchored a solid group on defense. In net, the standout performance by Tristan Jarry 44 wins in 69 stars (nice), 0.913, 3 SO contrasted starkly with previous backup Carter Hart’s sub .900 sv%. Dysin Mayo with a +19 in 57 games and Alexandre Carrier (+18) were both extremely effective on the bottom pair, Freddy Gaudreau anchored the 3^rd line impressively with and veteran Brian Boyle was a ridiculous +24.

On the negative side star deadline acquisition Robert Thomas is still 70+ days away from returning from a torn ACL suffered in his Red Wings debut after being traded by, ironically, the Montreal Canadiens. Heiskanen hasn’t had an impact at even strength, and Nic Paul is still looking for his first point despite having played in 18 games, although he has been effective in a 2^nd unit PK role. Connor Ingram, brought in at the deadline, has been untested with only 37 mins but played well in that micro sample.

On the Montreal side, Huberdeau carried the load offensively this season with 98 points and was supported by either Robert Thomas pre-deadline or Mark Scheifele post-deadline playing at point per game paces. Nick Suzuki was a top player throughout, which made up for the bizarre lack of production from Roope Hintz 16g/38p. A strong performance from the 3^rd line led by Josh Anderson and Jake Evans, and strong seasons from rookies Cole Caufield and Dawson Mercer have all been keys to the Habs’ success. In net Jack Campbell turned in a strong .910 this season in 61 starts before being traded at the deadline and replaced by Johnathan Quick, who proceeded to put up an identical .910 in 14 starts down the stretch. The Habs defense group is sturdy throughout, although Suter, Krug, Hampus Lindholm, and Edler are all varying levels of banged up to start the series.

3 Keys to the Series for Each Team:

Detroit:
-Win Game 1: Maintain home ice advantage. This is especially important with Montreal missing two defensemen to start the series.
-Play to Strengths: This team has the offensive firepower to outscore most teams, and a high end starter in net this season. McDavid, Elias Lindholm, Pavelski, Meier, Jarry, and Faulk have been the top players for this team all season and need to maintain that high level of play in the playoffs.
-Strong Special Teams: This team takes many penalties with their aggressive play, so an effective PK will be critical, and the ability to roll two decent powerplay units has been key for this team all season.

Montreal:
-Quick: Johnathan Quick might be the single most influential player in this series. If he can continue his strong play and stay healthy, Montreal is on even footing in net, but that’s no guarantee at his age.
-Scoring from Line 2: Hintz has struggled this season but has the potential to turn it up several notches.
-Get Healthy and Stay Healthy: a whopping 5 players are dealing with minor injuries and could miss time this series. Suter, and Krug are both out for the first couple games, and the trio of Quick, Hampus Lindholm, and Edler are all able to play but are a little banged up.

Our Prediction: Red Wings in 6! McDavid has 11 goals and 25 points in 16 career playoff games - he just needs someone else to show up with him!

-Detroit Free Press, April 29, 2023