DeBrincat’s Wild Bounce, Milestone Goals Highlight Red Wings’ OT Loss to Capitals
In a game that had just about everything - drama, desperation, and a bounce that defied logic - the Detroit Red Wings clawed back from the brink before falling 4-3 in overtime to the Washington Capitals on Thursday night. And while the final result didn’t go Detroit’s way, the night still delivered a moment that fans - and maybe even physics professors - will be talking about for a long time.
With just 1:41 remaining in regulation and the Red Wings trailing 3-1, Detroit mounted a furious rally. Alex DeBrincat cut the deficit to one, and then, with only 53 seconds left, he tied the game in truly bizarre fashion. His dump-in from the neutral zone took an unexpected - and nearly unexplainable - turn when it clipped the camera hole in the glass, changed direction, and somehow found its way past Capitals goalie Charlie Lindgren.
“I’ve never seen anything like it, and we may never see it again,” said Capitals head coach Spencer Carbery. According to Carbery, the puck struck the camera hole just as a photographer was closing the protective door over it. The league later clarified that had the puck hit the camera itself, the goal would’ve been disallowed.
Instead, the goal stood, and DeBrincat’s second of the night sent the game to overtime.
DeBrincat Hits 30 Again - Joins Elite Red Wings Company
That second goal wasn’t just dramatic - it was historic. With his two-goal performance, DeBrincat reached the 30-goal mark for the second straight season, becoming just the fourth Red Wing in the last 20 years to record back-to-back 30-goal campaigns.
He now joins a pretty exclusive club:
- Dylan Larkin: Four straight 30-goal seasons (2021-22 to 2024-25)
- Henrik Zetterberg: Four straight (2005-06 to 2008-09)
- Pavel Datsyuk: Two straight (2007-08 to 2008-09)
That’s a list packed with franchise legends, and DeBrincat’s inclusion is a testament to both his scoring touch and consistency. He’s proven to be more than just a sniper - he’s become a cornerstone piece in Detroit’s offensive identity.
Larionov’s Coaching Struggles Continue in KHL
While DeBrincat was making headlines in Detroit, a Red Wings icon is facing a much tougher stretch overseas.
Igor Larionov, the Hall-of-Famer affectionately known as “The Professor,” is in his first season behind the bench for KHL powerhouse SKA St. Petersburg - and so far, it’s been a rough ride. SKA has dropped four straight games and currently sits in eighth place in the Western Conference, clinging to the final playoff spot.
After a 6-0 loss to Torpedo - the very team Larionov coached the past two seasons - SKA’s front office made a major shakeup by firing his assistant coaches. Larionov, who was hired to bring an aggressive, attacking brand of hockey to SKA, admitted the situation is weighing heavily on him.
“This is probably the biggest disappointment of my coaching career,” he told KHL.com.
Critics have questioned whether SKA’s current roster is built to play the up-tempo style Larionov prefers. Regardless, the pressure is mounting in St. Petersburg, and the leash is likely getting shorter for one of hockey’s most cerebral minds.
Olympic Hopes in Doubt for Former Red Wings Prospect
Radim Simek, a former Red Wings organizational defenseman, may be in danger of missing the 2026 Winter Olympics after suffering a hand injury earlier this week.
Simek, now the captain of Liberec in the Czech Extraliga, was named to Czechia’s Olympic roster earlier this month. But after being sidelined in a recent game, his status for the Games is now uncertain. While the Czech hockey federation hasn’t ruled him out, they’re keeping a close eye on his recovery timeline.
Simek’s NHL résumé includes 209 games with the San Jose Sharks. He also spent part of the 2023-24 season with the AHL’s Grand Rapids Griffins, appearing in both regular-season and playoff action.
Former Red Wings Draftee Resurfaces in Sweden
Defenseman Mattias Backman, once a promising Red Wings draft pick, is back on the ice after nearly a year away from professional hockey. The 33-year-old signed with Vita Hästen of Hockeyettan, Sweden’s third-tier pro league, on Friday.
Backman was selected 146th overall by Detroit in the 2011 NHL Draft and played 20 games with the AHL’s Grand Rapids Griffins between 2013 and 2015. Most recently, he suited up for Frisk Asker in Norway during the 2024-25 season.
It’s a long road back for Backman, but his return to the game underscores the enduring passion many players carry well beyond their time in the NHL spotlight.
Bottom Line: From DeBrincat’s jaw-dropping equalizer to Larionov’s coaching turmoil in Russia, it’s been a week full of twists for those connected to the Red Wings - past and present. Detroit may have come up short in overtime, but their never-say-die effort - and DeBrincat’s milestone moment - gave fans a glimpse of the fight still burning in this group.