Elmont, N.Y. − Don’t say these remaining games on the Red Wings’ schedule don’t matter when talking to goaltender Magnus Hellberg.
The Wings are slipping in the standings, having gone winless now in five consecutive games after Saturday’s 4-1 loss to the New York Islanders. The playoffs are becoming a reach each and every day, and meaningful games don’t appear as meaningful any more.
But they are important for Hellberg, 31, who is attempting to stay in the NHL. Hellberg can be an unrestricted free agent this summer but would like to remain with the Wings.
Saturday’s game was only his 11th appearance this season for Hellberg, who the Wings claimed off waivers in December. He’s 3-6-1 with a 3.11 goals-against average and a .895 save percentage.
Don’t tell Hellberg, who’d love to remain in the NHL, these games don’t matter. Every game is vital for Hellberg’s NHL career.
“My contract is up this year, this is where I want to stay,” Hellberg said. “Every game I get, I get to showcase to get a new contract. So even though whether the playoffs is in reach or not, every chance you get to play, you want to play your best hockey.
“That’s what I’m going to try to keep doing every game I get.”
Hellberg made 32 saves, 16 in the first period and 25 through two periods, helping keep the Islanders at bay.
But the Islanders’ hard-driving style finally broke through in the final 20 minutes, getting a rebound goal and two deflections among a four-goal barrage.
“As a goalie you just try to stop the puck whatever chances you get,” Hellberg said. “I felt pretty good out there. I thought I kept us in the game the first two periods and that’s my job. So it’s frustrating when they change the course of the game in the third period and you feel you have the win within reach.”
Hellberg got the start, as Ville Husso was unavailable to play because of injury. Coach Derek Lalonde said Hellberg is day to day, and could possibly play Sunday in Philadelphia, with Alex Nedeljkovic an option if Husso can’t go. Nedeljkovic was recalled from Grand Rapids Friday, with Husso unable to play.
Lalonde was pleased with Hellberg’s play against the Islanders.
“He was fine,” Lalonde said. “We scored one goal. Four goals (allowed) is not a recipe for success, but he was fine. It’s tough to talk about goaltending (when) he gives up zero goals against for 40 minutes and we only score one goal, and we didn’t get a five-on-five goal.”
Chiasson debuts
Forward Alex Chiasson made his Red Wings debut after being recalled Friday from Grand Rapids.
Chiasson played 10 minutes 41 seconds on 14 shifts, with a minus-one rating, one hit and one giveaway playing on a line with Pius Suter and Adam Erne.
Chiasson, 32, has played 632 games for seven different NHL teams. Chiasson spent this season in Grand Rapids, where he had nine goals and 20 points in 29 games.
“He’s hard to play against,” captain Dylan Larkin said. “He plays the game the right way. I’ve played a lot against him during my career. He’ll get up to speed and be great around the other team’s net. He’s a veteran, so he brings a lot of experience to our lineup.
“Chaser did a great job coming in and he’s an NHL player. He brings value and grit and I’m excited to see him more as it goes along here.”
Ice chips
The Wings dropped seven points behind the Islanders in the playoff chase, but maintain hope there is time to make up ground.
“We’re still hanging around,” Larkin said. “That’s been the attitude the last two games, we’re still right there and we have to win hockey games.”
… This was the first game after the trade deadline, and Larkin felt it was easier to get through than Thursday when the Wings learned Tyler Bertuzzi and Filip Hronek had been dealt.
“Thursday was tough,” Larkin said. “But it’s in the past and we bounced back.”
… The Islanders have won seven straight home games against the Red Wings. The Islanders are 8-3-1 overall in their last 12 games against the Wings.
tkulfan@detroitnews.com
Twitter: @tkulfan
Red Wings at Flyers
▶ Faceoff: 6 p.m. Sunday, Wells Fargo Center, Philadelphia.
▶ TV/radio: BSD/97.1/The Ticket.
▶ Outlook: The Flyers (23-28-11) have only won two of their last 10 games (2-6-2) and are winless their last four games…The Flyers defeated the Wings 2-1 in the only game between the teams thus far this season…RW Travis Konecny (27 goals, 27 assists) and G Carter Hart (16-19-10, 2.94 GAA, .907 SVS) lead the rebuilding Flyers.