Have you seen the Redwings stats lately under McLellan compared to the rest of the league since he took over:
Red Wings under McLellan
13-4-1, 27 points (tied for first)
3.39 goals per game (fourth)
2.67 goals against per game (14th)
Power play: 35.7 percent (second)
Shots differential: Plus-23 (13th)
They have allowed only nine goals in their past six games (5-0-1).
The stats under McLelllan is what matters moving forward and not what came before. Their 27 points during that span is tied for first in the NHL with Dallas (13-4-1) and Washington (11-2-5).
So over 18 gp for both teams (since Dec 26th):
Stat | Wings | Place | Sens | Place |
Pts | 27 | 1(tied) | 22 | 5th (tied) |
GF/Game | 3.33 | 4th | 2.33 | 30th |
GA/Game | 2.67 | 14th | 2.33 | 4th (tied) |
PP% | 35.7 | 2nd | 22.4 | 18th |
Shot Diff. | +1 | 19th | +15 | 11th |
Lets add one more for good measure: PK%, in which Ottawa is 12th best at 81.5, vs Detroit at 28th with 71.1
Wings take it on Pts, GF/Game, and PP%. Ottawa takes it on GA/game, shot diff and PK%.
I guess the question is, can the wings sustain this under McLellan? I think you think they can, which is fine.
Given your condition that when a coach started with the team is what really matters, since the start of the season the Sens are:
Tied with the wings in GF/GP at 2.83 (over the entire season)
6th best in GA/GP at 2.67 (which the Wings have only sustained under TM, their season average is 3.06)
9th best PP% at 23.4 (behind Wings in 4th @ 27.3)
7th (tied) in Shots for per game at 29.7 (the wings have 29.4 in their last 18)
11th best in shots against per game at 27.3 (wings have 28.2 in their last 18)
The sens numbers through 52 games are pretty great. The wings have only been able to do it for 18 games.