Red Wings relieve some stress but schedule relentless

The Detroit Red Wings knew when the schedule was released in June that their first five games would be treacherous, and it played out that way.

Urgency, if not desperation, set in after only four games, following back-to-back losses to the New York Rangers.

That’s why Saturday’s 5-2 victory at Nashville was “huge,” as Andrew Copp put it.

“Everything gets magnified early in the season when there’s such a small sample size, but you never want to lose two in a row, you definitely don’t want to lose three in a row,” Copp told Bally Sports Detroit. “It was good to right the ship a little bit, kind of get a good feeling back in the room for a big game on Tuesday.”

The Red Wings (2-3-0) visit the New York Islanders (2-1-2) Tuesday (7:45 p.m., FanDuel Sports Detroit) during the NHL’s Frozen Frenzy night, when all 32 teams are in action with games staggered every 15-30 minutes starting at 6 p.m.

Alex Lyon’s 37-save performance lifted Detroit to its second victory against the shockingly pointless Predators (0-5-0).

“We came in desperate and it’s hard to win that way on the road,” Lyon told Bally’s. “They’re really talented. I can’t say enough about the compete of the guys. It’s always tough to win on the road, especially in this building. It’s just awesome. We’re going to come closer from this.

“I’m just so happy for the guys. It’s just stressful when you start 1-3.”

Copp’s first of two goals at 3:29 of the third period snapped a 2-2 tie and stood as the game-winner. Coach Derek Lalonde said it also was vital for Dylan Larkin to score on the power play – which came into the game 2 for 16 -- in the second period.

“Our power play has had looks,” Lalonde told BSD. “I know in the meeting the other day I probably sound like a broken record but we’ve been averaging almost six chances a game on it. Our expected goals on the power play is there, almost 1½. But if you don’t score, that doesn’t matter. We get the goal, and it leads to us winning a period. It’s just momentum. Big that we cashed in, a good sign.”