Derek Lalonde Angry at Team Placement with Vegas Odds-makers
The Detroit Red Wings currently sit in the second wild card spot with 64 points in 55 games sporting a 29-20-6 record. They have a 0.582 points percentage, which is only good to bump them up into the first wild card position. Many odds-makers are counting them out while propping others up.
Lalonde's response to the odds makers in Las Vegas
When talking to reporters after practice the other day Lalonde explained his displeasure with the odds Detroit is getting, while teams behind them get better odds.
«There's still projections out there that people send me that we're a low 20 percent chance; some teams chasing us are 67 percent chance of making it. I get it with these projections and AI and all that, but that's why you just shut things off. Live in the moment and if we are going to stay in this battle and be fortunate enough to be there in the end, it's going to be what we do.»
When discussing the latest odds, Lalonde responded with:
«It's not good. Today's betting, I'm not a gambler, but you go to the NHL schedule, and they have the odds and Vegas hates us. So, I hope they've lost a lot of money on us."
«Someone gave me a stat � we've won more games as a Vegas underdog than anyone in the league this year by a large margin. So, keep the secret. Maybe it motivates our guys. We were road underdogs, big dogs in Calgary and Seattle. That's fine. I think it says something about the group. There's a quiet confidence in that room. We got to continue to do it right.»
«Someone gave me a stat � we've won more games as a Vegas underdog than anyone in the league this year by a large margin. So, keep the secret. Maybe it motivates our guys. We were road underdogs, big dogs in Calgary and Seattle. That's fine. I think it says something about the group. There's a quiet confidence in that room. We got to continue to do it right.»
Do the outside noise and distractions bother the Red Wings?
When asked about all the outside noise and if it bothers the Wings, Lalonde had this to say:
«Live in the moment with it. Day to day. We shut the noise off. I don't do social media for a reason. I hope our guys are the same. I'm sure the two straight losses [to Edmonton and Vancouver last week], it [the playoff race] was over for some fans, and then the two straight wins it's already a lock buying playoff tickets. We can't operate like that. This is going to be extremely difficult. It's more a credit to our division and our conference.»
It is clear Lalonde is not letting the noise distract the team, but he is obviously displeased with how underrated his team is.
As Read On Hockey Feed - Derek Lalonde fires back at Vegas oddsmakers
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