The Detroit Red Wings need a big game to redeem themselves following three straight uninspiring performances offensively. This showdown vs. the Anaheim Ducks gives them the perfect chance to prove a couple of points.
For one, it’s an opportunity to show they’re a good hockey team. Even the best teams struggle through skids where they are nonexistent offensively, but only the good teams figure out how to get back on track. That’s the big challenge awaiting the Wings.
It also gives them a chance to upend an opponent that beat them by three goals earlier in the season. If you remember it right, Anaheim got the best of the Wings in a 5-2 outing, spoiling goaltender John Gibson’s homecoming.
While Gibson is getting another crack against his old team, the Wings have a chance to show us they are the high-octane unit they were earlier in the year, and that they can do all this while bringing forth a physical game.
A three-day break is a great way to push the reset button when you’re in a slump. And while the Wings and their fans would have loved to build some momentum when there’s a looming three days off, getting a chance to reflect and find ways to learn from mistakes is a great consolation.
For the Wings, this mini-vacation was all about finding ways to get mroe physical. Alex DeBrincat said it best on Tuesday. In a piece from Jonathan Mills at NHL.com, DeBrincat said, “We need to be a more physical and harder team to play against. We’re giving up too much too easily, so we got to win our 50-50s in the O-zone and D-zone. Really, all over the ice. Just getting back to that work ethic and playing simple is going to be what’s best for us.”
Lack of physical play has been a nuisance for the Red Wings, and it’s been a hot topic this week. If the Red Wings were a smaller, more finesse team, then this wouldn’t be as big an issue. But they boast a lot of size, and that’s what’s frustrating them. When you’re a bigger team, you can’t play a soft game, and the Red Wings have developed a bad habit of doing so.
Is a trade looming on the horizon? If you ask Todd McLellan, he will give you the most nonchalant, neutral answer you can ask for. In other words, his answer will frustrate you, and you will walk away thinking the Wings may or may not be actively exploring anything.
But a few players are actively exploring something. Patrick Kane is just a few goals away from his 500th, while Dylan Larkin is chasing 600 points, Lucas Raymond 300 points, and Moritz Seider, 200 points. Look for all four of those players to hit their respective milestones this season.
And finally, here’s an interesting question to ask: What enticed the Red Wings to sign Travis Hamonic in the first place? Hamonic hasn’t exactly impressed since arriving in the Motor City, and his overall play is worse than you think. Maybe, if the Wings are exploring any trade, it’s to admit their mistake with Hamonic and dump him onto someone like the Calgary Flames, a team that doesn’t figure to compete.
Hollywood and wildlife fans alike are buzzing after Terri Irwin reportedly purchased a $20 million Beverly Hills mansion for her son Robert Irwin, following his historic win on Dancing With the Stars. But insiders reveal this isn’t just a lavish reward — it’s a deliberate act to shield Robert emotionally while giving him a foundation for his growing media and conservation empire.
Sources close to the family say Robert initially refused to have the mansion in his name, worried about the attention and the weight of responsibility. “Robert is incredibly humble,” one friend explained. “He didn’t want this to be about money or status. But Terri insisted — she told him, ‘You deserve this, and I’m making sure it’s yours.’”
Insiders add that Terri was driven by the memory of Steve Irwin, wanting to protect Robert from the kind of emotional pressures his father faced in the public eye. “Terri saw how hard it was for Steve to balance fame, family, and work,” the source said. “She wants Robert to have security and space to grow without fear or judgment.”
The estate reportedly includes state-of-the-art media studios, private animal habitats, classrooms for wildlife education, and even soundproof rehearsal spaces — making it both a luxurious home and a fully operational base for Robert’s projects. Friends say Terri’s vision was for Robert to have autonomy, privacy, and creative freedom, all while carrying on the Irwin legacy.
The timing of the purchase is no coincidence. Robert’s DWTS victory — including a perfect score performance that moved judges and audiences to tears — reportedly inspired Terri to make the gift official. “Seeing him shine on national TV, proud yet emotional, reinforced for Terri just how much he deserved this,” an insider said.
Social media erupted as news spread, with fans celebrating the combination of talent, legacy, and family devotion. Clips of Robert’s DWTS routines were shared with captions like #RobertIrwinLegend, while hashtags such as #IrwinLegacy and #MomGoals trended worldwide. Many fans praised Terri for protecting her son while letting him step into his own spotlight.
“Terri’s gesture is as much about love as it is about strategy,” an insider explained. “She knows Robert’s heart is tender, his spirit kind, and his future bright. She’s creating a safe space for him to thrive while honoring Steve’s legacy in a way that’s personal, protective, and permanent.”
With a $20 million mansion now firmly in his name — and equipped as both a home and operational hub — Robert Irwin is stepping into a new chapter of life, celebrity, and conservation leadership, fully backed by a mother determined to shield him from heartbreak while celebrating his triumphs.