Detroit — The Red Wings hit the halfway mark of their regular season schedule Saturday and in so many ways it typified the first 50% of the schedule.
There were highs, lows, moments where they showed promise and improvement, then times where a disgruntled fan could have thought nothing has changed.
The 4-3 loss to a cellar-dwelling Columbus certainly wasn’t ideal. It left the Wings with a 18-16-7 record, with 43 points. Somewhat surprisingly, they were 18-17-6 (42 points) at this juncture last season.
So, the improvement in the standings is marginal, at best.
But there does seem to be a confidence in the Wings’ locker room the second half of this season can be significantly better and promising.
The Wings have more depth and talent throughout the roster. Some young players have taken noticeable leaps in their development.
But the Wings are still searching for a bit more consistency.
“There’s definitely areas where we’ve progressed,” captain Dylan Larkin said. “After (Saturday’s) game I don’t really want to get into that right now, (but) it’s clear that we’ve progressed. We’re more deep.
“But we’ve been talking about it, getting on a run, stringing some wins together. Then (a loss like Saturday’s) happens, and it’s frustrating. That’s kind of been the story of the season. We win two or three and then we can’t find the fourth or fifth and get on a nice run.
“We need to find that. We’re talking about it, we’re trying. We need to do it pretty soon here.”
Coach Derek Lalonde has talked often this season about how the Wings can’t expect to go into any games and expect to coast to victory. The Wings’ skill level isn’t near where that could be possible. Hard work and attention to detail from this Wings roster is manadatory.
Saturday’s loss was another example.
“You see what we are,” Lalonde said of a first half assessment. “If we compete and we execute, and our compete and our battle is in that nine-out-of-10, 10-out-of-10 (range), we can play with anyone. But we’re not good enough to not do that at any time against anyone.
“Our compete was at a high, high level for four of the last six periods (including an impressive win over Toronto), and it wasn’t there for (the first) two periods (Saturday). Disappointing? Maybe. But it’s where we’re at.”
Avalanche warning
Being on the Tampa Bay coaching staff last year, losing in the Stanley Cup Finals to Colorado still gnaws at Lalonde, who will see those same Avalanche on Monday as the Wings visit on the holiday matinee.
The Avalanche (21-17-3) have been riddled with injuries and currently sit outside the Western Conference playoff picture.
“They’re not having the season they were expecting, with their expectations into the season, but that’s a Cup contender,” Lalonde said. “They’re the champions, they’re that good again.”
The atmosphere in Denver is always unique, with many Wings fans in attendance, and the memories of the old Wings-Avalanche rivalry still fresh for older fans.
“It’s always an exciting game in Colorado with a lot of Detroit fans there,” Larkin said. “I’m sure with them winning the Stanley Cup last year I expect it to be a good atmosphere, an early afternoon game. We need to be ready to go. It’s always a difficult first 20 minutes in that building with the travel and the altitude.”
Be it the defending Cup champions, or one of the bottom-feeders in the standings, the Wings aren’t in position to play passively.
“I don’t care if we’re playing the No. 1 team in the league or the No. 32 team, we have to have a high compete and execution level,” Lalonde said. “It’ll be the same thing against them (Colorado).”
Nedeljkovic on waivers
The Wings continued to make roster moves Sunday by putting goaltender Alex Nedeljkovic on waivers. Any team can claim Nedeljkovic by 2 p.m. Monday.
Nedeljkovic made 27 saves, leading Grand Rapids to a 1-0 victory Saturday over Chicago as he ended his conditioning stint. Nedeljkovic was 3-2-1, with a 2.30 goals-against average and .920 save percentage.
By putting Nedeljkovic (2-4-2, 4.09 GAA, .880 SVS) on waivers, it appears the Wings are more comfortable with Magnus Hellberg (2-3-0, 2.81 GAA, .896 SVS with Wings) backing up Ville Husso.
Lalonde said both Husso and Hellberg would get a start in the next two games, in Colorado and Tuesday in Arizona.
Presumably, Nedeljkovic will return to Grand Rapids if he clears waivers.
Ice chips
Jakub Vrana went point-less against Chicago and has one point (an assist) in seven games in Grand Rapids.
… Lucas Raymond has 14 points (six goals, eight assists) in his last 12 games.
… Larkin (161 goals, 235 assists, 396 points) is one point away from tying Igor Larionov (89 goals, 308 assists, 397 points) for 21st place on the Wings’ all-time scoring list…. The Wings have outscored opponents 53-41 in the third period this season.
Red Wings at Avalanche
▶ Faceoff: 3 p.m. Monday, Ball Arena, Denver
▶ TV/radio: BSD/97.1 FM
▶ Outlook: The Avalanche (21-17-3) are coming off a 7-0 victory Saturday over Ottawa. … The defending Stanley Cup champions have been decimated by injuries and are clawing to get into the playoff chase. … RW Mikko Rantanen (29 goals), C Nathan MacKinnon (32 assists, 43 points) and D Cale Makar (40 points) lead offensively.
ted.kulfan@detroitnews.com
Twitter: @tkulfan