HockeyBuzz.com – Jeremy Laura – Red Wings face Kings, Johansson steps up update

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UPDATE: The #RedWings today signed Dominik Shine to a two-year contract for the 2024-25 and 2025-26 seasons pic.twitter.com/dfTZlyuUl0

— Detroit Red Wings (@DetroitRedWings) January 27, 2025

#RedWings McLellan: Compher out tonight, day to day from hit the other night. Tarasenko is sick and questionable. Rasmussen good to go. Motte is cleared to play. No word on when Kane might return to practice.

— Ansar Khan (@AnsarKhanMLive) January 27, 2025

The Detroit Red Wings have certainly seen multiple changes since their last matchup with the Kings on November 16th. The team has gone 10-4-1 since the coaching change, but more importantly there are players who seem to have moved forward. Johansson was recently praised by coach McLellan as the player that has surprised him the most. The previously “shelved” blue liner has shown improved play in all 3 zones, the coach opined.

With the type of in net performance Talbot put in against Tampa but a normally hot power play stymied it seems difficult to compare the group that Los Angeles will face based on the performance that fans witnessed in the last meeting. The team’s needs to play hard but disciplined to maximize the opportunity to be on the man advantage. Soderblom has been all around the net during this callup and it would be nice to see the big man get on the board.

The team’s win against Tampa wasn’t solely based on goaltending, but the last period saw Talbot shut down multiple grade A chances. The defense (opinion) on the PK did a better job with the defender down low in terms of opposing players getting behind them. The power play seems to get good zone time even on sequences that don’t result in a goal.

It will be interesting to see if this team can reverse their previous fortunes against the Kings. As always let me know your thoughts and what you expect to see.