Red Wings Bounce Back with 4-2 Win Over Sharks Behind Kasper’s Breakout Night
After a tough shutout loss in Boston, the Detroit Red Wings got exactly the kind of response they were hoping for - a gritty, structured 4-2 win over the San Jose Sharks at Little Caesars Arena. Friday night’s victory not only completed a two-game season sweep of the Sharks, but also reinforced a growing trend: when Detroit scores four or more, they don’t lose. Literally.
With the win, the Red Wings improved to 20-0-2 this season when putting up at least four goals. And they’ve now gone more than seven weeks without dropping back-to-back games in regulation - a testament to both their resilience and consistency.
Marco Kasper was one of the night’s standout performers, tallying a goal and an assist for his second multi-point effort of the season. His empty-netter sealed the win, but it was his setup on J.T. Compher’s second-period goal that turned heads - a confident, high-skill play that showed why the Red Wings are so high on the 21-year-old forward.
“I think we’ve been playing good hockey the last few weeks,” Kasper said postgame. “Getting this win today after a tough one in Boston is important.
And for me personally, it’s always fun to score one, especially after a long time. It was an empty-net goal, but they count the same.”
A Strong Start and a Needed Response
Detroit wasted no time getting on the board. Just over six minutes into the first period, the Red Wings cashed in on the game’s first power play.
Alex DeBrincat - who’s been Detroit’s go-to finisher all season - buried his team-leading 25th goal after a slick give-and-go with Lucas Raymond. The play started behind the net with James van Riemsdyk, who worked it up the wall to DeBrincat.
From there, it was textbook puck movement, with Raymond drawing defenders before setting up DeBrincat for a one-timer from the right circle.
“We started off really well in the first period,” Raymond said. “Especially the first five.”
But San Jose didn’t fold. Just a few minutes later, Macklin Celebrini fired a shot from the high slot that John Gibson couldn’t fully control. The rebound popped behind the veteran netminder, and Will Smith was first to it, tapping it in to tie the game 1-1.
The Sharks then took their only lead of the night early in the second period, when Collin Graff redirected a centering feed from Nick Leddy past Gibson to make it 2-1.
Kasper’s Confidence Shines Through
That lead didn’t last long. Less than five minutes later, Kasper took matters into his own hands.
He danced around John Klingberg at the blue line with a slick move, protected the puck from Michael Misa, and then threaded a perfect pass across the crease to Compher for an easy tap-in. It was Compher’s sixth goal of the season, and Kasper’s first point since New Year’s Day.
“I was just trying to get to the zone,” Kasper said. “The guy stepped up and then J.T. was yelling a lot for it.
So, I found him and it went in. I felt good today.”
That play was more than just a pretty assist - it was a glimpse of what Kasper can bring when he’s playing with confidence. Head coach Todd McLellan took notice.
“I know his game has been coming,” McLellan said. “Maybe not on the scoresheet regularly, but his physicality, tenacity, skating - he looks like a different player right now.
The guys are pulling for him on the bench. They know he’s an important piece on the team.”
Captain Clutch Strikes Again
Dylan Larkin gave Detroit the lead for good early in the third period, jamming a puck short side on Yaroslav Askarov to make it 3-2. The goal, Larkin’s 24th of the season, was a milestone moment - his 266th career tally, moving him past John Ogrodnick for 10th place on the Red Wings’ all-time goals list.
“You don’t truly know a player until you really get around him,” McLellan said of his captain. “Dylan cares immensely.
He cares about the city, team, organization and his teammates. He’s driven.
He is a proud Red Wing. He’s a proud captain, and that’s real important.”
Lucas Raymond and van Riemsdyk assisted on the go-ahead goal, capping off strong nights for both. Raymond, in particular, was all over the ice, matching a career high with three assists and logging his 14th multi-point game of the season.
Closing It Out the Right Way
With San Jose pushing late and their net empty, Raymond found Kasper with a clean pass, and the young forward buried his fourth goal of the season to ice the game at 4-2. It was his first goal since Oct. 30 - a long time coming, but a payoff for the work he’s been putting in behind the scenes.
“He’s been working really hard all year,” Raymond said of Kasper. “Maybe hasn’t gotten the results he’s been wanting to, but he works hard. Good for him.”
Raymond also spoke candidly about the challenges that come with being in your second NHL season - something Kasper is navigating now.
“In that second year, expectations become different,” Raymond said. “It’s tricky, but it’s about doing the right things.
Everyone isn’t always going to score. We need guys to contribute in a lot of different ways.”
Looking Ahead
Detroit now turns its focus to Sunday night’s matchup with the Ottawa Senators, another opportunity to keep the momentum rolling. With Larkin leading by example, Kasper finding his stride, and Raymond continuing to produce, the Red Wings are showing signs of a team that’s learning how to respond - not just to losses, but to adversity within games.
And if they keep scoring four or more? Well, the record speaks for itself.