Red Wings Struggle with Slow Starts, Seek Faster Openings

Coach McLellan and players acknowledge ongoing issue as team prepares to face league-leading Avalanche

Jan. 30, 2026 at 8:47pm

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The Detroit Red Wings have struggled with slow starts in recent games, falling behind early in seven of their last eight contests. Coach Todd McLellan and players like James van Riemsdyk and Moritz Seider recognize the need to play a more connected, simple game from the opening faceoff, especially with upcoming matchups against the NHL-leading Colorado Avalanche.

Why it matters

Slow starts have plagued the Red Wings for years, and the team knows they can't afford to dig early holes against top opponents like the Avalanche. Overcoming these deficits takes a toll and isn't a sustainable formula for success over the long haul of the NHL season.

The details

Over the past eight games, the Red Wings have trailed in seven of those contests, falling behind by two goals in four games and once trailing by three. In six of those games, Detroit surrendered the first goal. Despite their slow starts, the Red Wings own a 4-2-1 record in these seven games, but they acknowledge their luck won't last if they continue this pattern.

  • In the Red Wings' last eight games, they have trailed in seven of them.

The players

Todd McLellan

The head coach of the Detroit Red Wings.

James van Riemsdyk

A forward for the Detroit Red Wings.

Moritz Seider

A defenseman for the Detroit Red Wings.

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What they’re saying

“Our starts have been a little indifferent.”

— Todd McLellan, Head Coach (detroithockeynow.com)

“Probably having better starts is definitely a good thing. Yeah, I think it comes back to just playing connected as a five-man group and just playing simpler. And I think when we do that, we get to our game with a lot more kind of consistency and frequency.”

— James van Riemsdyk, Forward (detroithockeynow.com)

“Just gotta make sure we get pucks behind their D, really challenge their defensemen. Make sure we get onto our forecheck, get everyone going. And I think those are simple things that hopefully make a difference.”

— Moritz Seider, Defenseman (detroithockeynow.com)

What’s next

The Red Wings will host the league-leading Colorado Avalanche in a home-and-home set, where they recognize they cannot afford to fall behind early against such a formidable opponent.

The takeaway

The Red Wings' ongoing struggle with slow starts is a concerning trend that has plagued the team for years. If they hope to compete with the NHL's elite, like the Avalanche, Detroit must find a way to play a more connected, simple game from the opening faceoff to avoid falling into early deficits that prove difficult to overcome.