Three takeaways from Red Wings' 6-4 loss against Blackhawks

At the outset, it looked like Monday would be a long night for the Detroit Red Wings. The Chicago Blackhawks scored three goals in the first period, taking advantage of a tired defense and a team playing for a third day in a row.
After a frenzied comeback effort in which the Red Wings scored four power-play goals, Detroit ultimately fell short after MacKenzie Entwistle scored his second goal of the night in the third period to break a deadlock and put the Blackhawks up, 5-4. It would ultimately end, 6-4, after Chicago added an empty-net goal in the final minute.
Still, the Red Wings enter the backstretch of their eight preseason games with a few good problems on their hands. Namely, that of Lucas Raymond, who added another two points to his account with a power-play goal and assist. Raymond yet again looked like someone who could crack the lineup on Opening Night.
Here are three takeaways:

Red Wings notch four power-play goals

It's only five preseason games, but it's hard not to be excited about the Red Wings' power play under assistant coach Alex Tanguay. A year after having the second-worst conversion rate in the league, Detroit has looked downright dangerous on the man advantage - and it only got better on Monday.
The Red Wings scored three power-play goals in the second period, and all three could end up on a highlight tape. Bobby Ryan scored the first, tipping the puck into an open net after a quick passing move from Nick Leddy and Lucas Raymond turned Marc-Andre Fleury around. Moritz Seider converted the second on a one-timer from the high slot and Robby Fabbri the third on a similar sequence as the first - this one from Seider to Filip Hronek to Fabbri.

They added a fourth in the third, with Raymond tying the game on a wrist shot at 3:06. That made the Red Wings 4-for-5 on the power play - a number that almost makes you laugh after last season.
"Certainly our puck movement's been good," Red Wings coach Jeff Blashill said. "I think we've moved it quick. That's been a big piece of what Alex has been trying to get them to do is just take what's given and move it quick. And then eventually, you'll find a seam but don't force pucks, take what's given."
Tanguay earned praise for what he was bringing to the power play during training camp, but it's always hard to know until you see it in a game. With the caveat that we've only seen preseason games so far, it's inarguable that the power play looks significantly improved.
"We have that speed on top, with both me and Dylan (Larkin) coming with speed on both sides, and then we could find passes from there," Raymond said. "But I think that the style that we're playing right now, it opens up a lot when you get that puck down the wing. You can have (it go) back to the top, seam, down the middle, a shot, you have a lot of options."

The Red Wings ran with two power-play units that were mostly filled with NHL players on Monday - Larkin, Ryan, Leddy, Raymond and Taro Hirose on the first; Seider, Hronek, Fabbri, Pius Suter and Filip Zadina on the second.
Hronek playing on a unit with Seider - manning the flank while Seider plays up top - is a wrinkle to be on the lookout for in the regular season. Blashill said last week they would try it out, and Hronek has looked comfortable playing there.
"He's got a really, really good one-timer," Blashill said of Hronek. "It's pretty accurate. So he's a weapon over there for us. I think with him and Seids, Seids can get the puck through pretty good, you saw tonight. And then he can get over to Hronek, so you got two weapons there, people have to honor. And ultimately, that opens up the middle."

Raymond continues to make his case

Blashill has been reluctant to endorse Lucas Raymond for a roster spot, wanting to temper expectations for the young Swede. But with each passing game, it looks like it could be harder and harder to keep him off the roster.
That continued on Monday. Raymond tallied another point with a primary assist on Ryan's goal. He scored on a power-play goal, sniping a wrist shot past Fleury. He made plays on the puck whenever he had a chance and looked like he belonged on NHL ice for the regular season.
"Obviously we don't have to make that decision yet," Blashill said. "He did a good job tonight. He's played good in the games he's played so far and that's all he can do is take the challenges he has ahead of him and play good hockey and I thought he did a good job. He's got a mature game for a young guy. He's obviously got talent."

Raymond, for his part, was sanguine when asked about making the roster.
"I just try to play my best, focus on my game and control the things that I can control," he said. "It's up to the staff to decide, but I'm just trying to make as much impact as I can and play as good as I can."
The logjam here will be complicated to navigate. If Raymond makes the roster, Blashill wants him playing real minutes - and to be deserving of real minutes - which means he'd need to take the spot of a more established player. Although Jakub Vrana's injury opens a spot, Bobby Ryan has played well, too, and also looks increasingly like he should be in the lineup on Opening Night.
All that said, it would be hard for Raymond to do much more than he has. Blashill said last week that for Raymond to make the roster, he wanted it to be clear enough that he was one of the best players out there that his wife could make the decision. Right now, Raymond is hovering around that level.
"I feel good," Raymond said. "Feels like I'm starting to get into my rhythm and feeling good out there."

Slow start

By the end of the first period, the Red Wings had given up three goals, taken three penalties and allowed 15 shots on net.
Certainly far from ideal.
Though it was Detroit's third straight day playing - an easy explanation for tired legs on defense - the Red Wings came out on the back foot and paid the price. Tyler Johnson opened the scoring for Chicago at 4:22 on a power-play goal and Jake McCabe followed minutes later with a wrist shot from the circle. Phillipp Kurashev added the third immediately after the Red Wings killed a penalty at 9:40.
The common thread between them seemed to be Detroit falling behind Chicago's passing, or simply looking inactive on defense. In other words: the symptoms of a team playing a loaded preseason schedule.