The Detroit Red Wings are facing a harsh reality as their season continues to spiral downward. Once leading the Atlantic Division, the team now finds itself struggling to stay competitive, having lost 11 of their last 19 games. Friday’s matchup against the Tampa Bay Lightning highlighted just how steep the climb back to relevance will be.

In Detroit’s 6–3 defeat at Little Caesars Arena, goals from Dylan Larkin and Michael Rasmussen weren’t enough to counter a dominant Lightning squad. Goaltender John Gibson allowed five goals, marking another rough outing for a Red Wings team searching for consistency. Fans and analysts alike have questioned what has gone wrong, but head coach Todd McLellan offered his perspective on the ongoing struggles.

“Our players care, there’s no question about it,

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