April 5, 2026, 8:00 p.m. ET
The Detroit Red Wings turned boos into cheers after rallying from a three-goal deficit within the third interval.
But then, instantly, the air was zapped from the Little Caesars Arena crowd on an inexplicable penalty from Patrick Kane, who had tied the rating simply minutes earlier.
The Minnesota Wild took benefit and scored with 14 seconds remaining on the following energy play, a dagger within the Wings’ playoff hopes with 1:51 to play en route a 5-4 win. The Wings’ loss additional twisted the knife as they fight to break a nine-year playoff drought − now the NHL’s longest lively streak after the Buffalo Sabres clinched a postseason berth on Saturday night time.
“It hurts,” McLellan stated when requested in regards to the ending. “It hurts. We get the comeback and we take a penalty 150 toes from our web not even within 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 dwelling, did not mince phrases in his postgame press convention Sunday (video atop this web page). A sampling of his ideas:
On disparity in play between the second and third periods
“My ideas, I suppose to put it, gently, is it is actually disappointing. Fifteen seconds in, we win a draw and we’re getting scored on as a result of we − what phrase do I exploit, lollygag? − round and do not advance the puck. So now it is in our web, and our staff proper now, as quickly because it does not go our manner, we crumble for some time after which we decide ourselves up off the mat, but it surely’s too late and we did it once more at the moment.
“Pattern.”
On dealing with what Andrew Copp referred to as ‘outdoors 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 after which crash. And it has to change.”
On squandering home games
“I did not thoughts our first interval. I assumed we missed the web and had photographs 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 lack to rapidly overcome errors.
“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.”
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