The Detroit Red Wings remain in second place after their four-game road trip out West, an impressive feat despite some concerning signs. Before heading west, the Red Wings stopped in Missouri and surprised the Blues by winning both legs of their home-and-home series. That accomplishment looks a bit less impressive now, considering St. Louis has stumbled to a last-place start.

Detroit then traveled to California and opened the trip strong against the Los Angeles Kings but nearly gave the game away after allowing two goals in 40 seconds late in the third period. They managed to escape with a shootout win. The following night, they faced the difficult task of completing a road back-to-back and fell short losing 5–2 to Anaheim.

Two days later, they faced the young and improving San Jose Sharks, who pushed Detroit to the limit before the Red Wings prevailed in yet another shootout victory. The trip concluded this past Tuesday in Las Vegas, where Detroit battled hard against the Golden Knights. They held their own defensively against one of the best offenses in the league but were ultimately shut out in a narrow 1–0 loss.

4 games, 7 points. 🐱

Cat is our @xfinity player of the week! pic.twitter.com/I7NAzcDbZA

— Detroit Red Wings (@DetroitRedWings) November 3, 2025

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Depth scoring proved to be an issue throughout the road trip, with stars Alex DeBrincat, Lucas Raymond, and captain Dylan Larkin carrying most of the offensive load. Overall, the team managed only 12 goals while allowing 13 across the five games. Of those 12 goals, the top trio accounted for seven, highlighting the growing problem of limited secondary scoring.

SWEET BABY RAY pic.twitter.com/bha6rCYD4M

— Detroit Red Wings (@DetroitRedWings) November 3, 2025

Forwards Emmitt Finnie and Jonatan Berggren, both hot before the trip, went without a point over the five games. J.T. Compher also failed to record a point, while veterans James van Riemsdyk, Mason Appleton, and Andrew Copp each went without a goal, though all contributed at least one assist, with Appleton collecting two. It is also worth noting that van Riemsdyk scored the shootout winner against San Jose, providing some impact there.

It is difficult to be overly critical of Detroit’s recent stretch given the length and difficulty of the road trip, but there is a sense that the team’s early-season momentum has slowed. After starting 5–1–0, the Red Wings have gone 4–4–0 since, with two of those wins coming in shootouts. Seven of their last eight games have been on the road, which helps explain the recent dip in form, but the Red Wings now have a chance to reset as they return home for a seven-game stretch, with only a quick trip to New York next Sunday interrupting the homestand.

If Detroit can regain the balanced scoring and energy that defined their early-season success, they can reestablish themselves as a legitimate playoff contender. If not, the conversation will shift toward whether their hot start was merely a brief surge rather than a sign of true progress. The next few games will be pivotal in determining that answer for both the Red Wings and their fans.

Red Wings Prospect Carter Bear Bringing Grit And Growth After NHL ExperienceDetroit's 2025 first round pick Carter Bear embraces a more physical game, showing grit and growth in Everett. His NHL preseason experience is fueling this impactful development.

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When the Montreal Canadiens take on the New Jersey Devils on Thursday night, Jakub Dobes will be in the net. Even though Samuel Montembeault was the uncontested number one last season, both goaltenders will have played the same number of games this season.

This is not a problem, nor is it a controversy. While once upon a time having a number one and a number two goaltender was a must, nowadays, there are examples of a 1A and 1B pairing working just fine. Did anybody complain about the Boston Bruins when Jeremy Swayman and Linus Ullmark split the workload 50-50? They didn’t because both netminders allowed the team to win.

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Besides, when Jacob Fowler is ready to graduate to the NHL, one of the two may have to move, and the higher their value, the better for the team. Until that moment comes, though, it’s perfectly fine for the winning goaltender to get the net.

While the Canadiens had an atrocious first period on Tuesday night and Montembeault gave up three quick goals, he could hardly be blamed for them, and he bounced back admirably, stopping the next 30+ shots sent his way, only allowing another one as he was vulnerable after dropping his stick. It was a reassuring performance from the starter, indicating he has turned a corner. However, ultimately, the Canadiens still lost the game, which is why it’s perfectly logical for Dobes to get the net in New Jersey on Thursday.

Bear Hug!!!

Boston Bruins Goaltender, Linus Ullmark, congratulates fellow Goalie, Jeremy Swayman, on his win against the Buffalo Sabres#NHLBruinspic.twitter.com/BCcMnahXcZ

— Micheline 📸 (@MiMiV4682) November 25, 2021

Suppose he has another great game and plays a significant role in a Canadiens’ victory. In that case, he should also be on duty on Saturday night at the Bell Center against the Utah Mammoth, especially since they’ve been impressive this season. It’s also worth mentioning that Montembeault hasn’t had an excellent record against them, 1-0-1 with a 2.89 goals-against average and a .889 save percentage. In this super-competitive Eastern Conference, where no team has a winning percentage below .500, every win and every point counts.

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Former Pittsburgh Penguins forward Anthony Beauvillier has had a tough start to the season offensively with the Washington Capitals. In his first 12 games of the year, the 2015 first-round pick recorded just two points. 

Beauvillier also went through a long cold streak, as he did not record a point in seven straight games for the Capitals from Oct. 21 to Nov. 1. However, he has now broken the ice in a big way. 

During the Capitals' Nov. 5 matchup against the St. Louis Blues, Beauvillier scored two goals in Washington's 6-1 win. With this, the former Penguin played a role in the Capitals getting their victory and improving to a 7-5-1 record. 

With his strong night, Beauvillier now has three goals, one assist, and a plus-6 rating in 13 games. Overall, his performance against the Blues was a nice step in the right direction for the former Penguins forward. 

The Penguins are now set to face off against Beauvillier and the Capitals on Nov. 6. 

In 63 games with the Penguins during the 2024-25 season, Beauvillier recorded 13 goals, seven assists, and 20 points. His time with the Penguins ended when he was traded to the Capitals ahead of the 2025 NHL trade deadline. 

On Wednesday night, New York Islanders No. 1 overall pick Matthew Schaefer appeared on NHL on TNT to answer questions from the panel. 

The interview begane with a question from Hockey Hall of Fame goaltender and New York Rangers legend Henrik Henrik Lundqvist about "pinch yourself" moments early on in his career. 

Schaefer began his response with a chirp: "First off, it's pretty tough getting a Ranger asking the first question, not the Long Island native here", referring to Williston Park native Liam McHugh. 

Enjoy the interview: 

The full Matthew Schaefer @NHL_On_TNT interview, including dishin’ some NY rivalry chirps at @HLundqvistpic.twitter.com/sZp0850rGW

— The Elmonters (@TheElmonters) November 6, 2025

Schaefer has 11 points (five goals, six assists) in 13 games this season, as he's off to a fiery start to his NHL career. 

He and the team are back in action on Friday nigth at UBS Arena against the Minnesota Wild.