Red Wings pleased with progress: Got to keep going and having fun – MLive.com

DETROIT A rare win in Philadelphia Wednesday put the Detroit Red Wings in a positive frame of mind Thursday during a spirited practice.

We had fun, we played with the puck, we didnt (make many) mistakes, Filip Zadina said of the 6-3 victory at Wells Fargo Center. We just got to keep playing like that. If youre thinking positive and everybody is playing the right way, everything is way easier. If we keep doing like that, well be fine and well be winning those games we need.

Just got to keep going and having fun, because if youre having fun, were playing good hockey as a team.

The Red Wings and Flyers meet again Saturday at Little Caesars Arena (noon, Bally Sports Detroit), after Detroit won for only the second time in 16 games at Philadelphia since the 1997 Stanley Cup Final.

The Red Wings are far out of a playoff position, but they feel good about their progress. They havent gained traction, winning back-to-back games only once in the past two months. But they are .500 in points percentage (21-21-6), and after 48 games they are nine points ahead of last seasons pace, 20 points better than they were at this stage two years ago.

I think weve done a decent job here over some really tough years of fighting through frustration and trying to keep our heads focused on moving towards a better tomorrow, when theres not much light at the end of the tunnel, which two years ago there wasnt, coach Jeff Blashill said. Last year I thought there was a little bit more. Its hard. This year, I think our guys are recognizing an avenue of us being a better team.

Between an influx of talent and just kind of growing as a group in terms of what it takes to win, thats part of the learning process and I think were learning it. Weve taken very few steps backwards. Weve just got to try to keep taking as many steps forward as we can.

The immediate impact high-end draft picks Moritz Seider and Lucas Raymond have made has boosted the rebuild, accelerated the optimism.

I think when you add really good pieces, whether it be young or veteran players, youre excited as a player because you know your teams better, Blashill said. We added (Nick Leddy) in the trade, we signed (Pius Suter), our guys felt that our team would be better. But certainly, when you add into your lineup rookies that have the impact that Seids and Lucas have had, youre excited about that.

With a young player, that means theyve got an opportunity to be part of a core, not just right now but moving forward. I would say theres a level of excitement within our players, certainly within our staff and with the fan base. Right now, we sit at .500.We dont want to be a .500 team ultimately. We want to be a really good team, so all of us have to work to continue to get better, including those young players. We have to grow. If you just stay status quo, the future isnt brighter. If you keep growing and getting better, the future can be brighter.

Hronek in COVID protocol

Defenseman Filip Hronek will be out a minimum of five days in COVID protocol, Blashill said. He will miss at least two games.

Troy Stecher has practiced a couple of times in a contact jersey while Leddy skated again Thursday in a non-contact jersey. Blashill said their status for Saturday will be determined after Fridays practice. If neither is ready, a defenseman will be recalled from the Grand Rapids Griffins.

Coming out of the All-Star break we knew that there was potential for different people to potentially get COVID, Blashill said. For multiple reasons, one because we were going to test. That didnt happen in Fils case. He tested and was negative and then he didnt feel great last night and ended up testing today again and was positive.

It is what it is. I think were all getting back closer to normal but understanding that this is still part of it.

More: Moritz Seider displays flashes of dominance vs. Flyers

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Red Wings pleased with progress: Got to keep going and having fun - MLive.com