The Detroit Red Wings had to scrap all the way to the finish line, but they walked out of Little Caesars Arena with a 4-3 shootout win over the San Jose Sharks on Saturday, Oct. 17.
Detroit struck first, let the game slip away, then found just enough late to force extra time. Alex DeBrincat provided the rescue act with 1:33 left in regulation, and Lucas Raymond buried the lone shootout goal to seal the victory. The win moved the Wings to 3-3-2.
It was a messy night for Detroit, especially with penalties piling up. The Wings were in the box for the fifth time early in the third period, and that’s when Ivar Stenberg made them pay, finishing a grade-A look from just outside the crease three minutes into the frame. Emmitt Finnie answered five minutes later, finishing Michael Brandsegg-Nygard’s setup to pull Detroit back within one.
The comeback started with a power-play strike in the first period. Justin Faulk fired from just inside the blue line and beat former Wings goalie Alex Nedeljkovic at 12:47 for a 1-0 lead.
That advantage didn’t last long. Dmitry Orlov tied it late in the period off a pass from Ivar Stenberg, and then Celebrini - the first overall pick in the 2024 NHL draft - scored on a slap shot five minutes into the second to put San Jose ahead 2-1.
He also assisted on Stenberg’s goal.
DeBrincat’s tying goal came after Detroit pulled John Gibson for an extra attacker in the final two minutes. His shot banked off a player and back to him, and he tapped it home for career goal No. 299.
The shootout then gave Raymond his first goal of the season after he had gone seven games without scoring. It was Detroit’s second shootout appearance already this season, and this one ended with the Wings finally finding a way to finish.
Detroit dressed 11 forwards for the fourth straight game, with J.T. Compher, Marco Kasper and Mason Appleton all out injured.
Raymond moved back onto a line with Dylan Larkin and Viktor Arvidsson after spending the previous game on the third line. Finnie centered DeBrincat and Brandsegg-Nygard, while Andrew Copp centered Michael Rasmussen and Nate Danielson.
Sheldon Dries and Keegan Kolesar also rotated through different lines.
On the blue line, Moritz Seider, Ben Chiarot, Justin Faulk, William Wallinder, Anton Johansson, Albert Johansson and Andreas Englund were in the lineup.
After spending seven of their first eight games at home, the Red Wings head out on a four-game trip that begins Tuesday, Oct. 20, against the Seattle Kraken. Detroit lost 6-3 to Seattle earlier this month after allowing five straight goals.
The road swing continues Thursday in Vancouver, then Oct. 24 in Calgary for what is set to be the final game at the Saddledome unless there’s a Stanley Cup matchup, and wraps Oct. 26 in Edmonton. The month closes with a home game against the Chicago Blackhawks on Oct. 29 and a Halloween meeting with the St.
Louis Blues.
In Other News...
Red Wings Keep Showing Fight But This Trend Could Become A Problem
The Red Wings keep finding ways to stay in games, and Sundays 4-3 shootout win over the Sharks at Little Caesars Arena was another example of the resilience they have shown early this season. Down 3-1 entering the third period, Detroit got goals from Emmitt Finnie and Alex DeBrincat to force extra time, then pulled out the extra point behind a composed effort in goal from John Gibson, who finished with 31 saves. It pushed the Red Wings to 3-3-2, which is the kind of record that reflects both the fight and the inconsistency they are still trying to smooth out.
Lucas Raymond provided the decisive touch in the shootout, and his night carried a little extra weight given the way the season has started for him. Detroit will take the two points and the comeback, but the broader concern is harder to ignore: the team has repeatedly had to dig itself out of trouble rather than control games from the start. For a roster trying to build momentum, that trend can become a problem if it keeps putting stress on the same late-game formula. [Read more 🡒]
Red Wings Showed The Late Fight Fans Have Been Waiting For
The Red Wings finally found the kind of late push their fans have been waiting to see, rallying for a 4-3 shootout win over the San Jose Sharks in a game that asked plenty of them along the way. Detroit got steady contributions from Justin Faulk and Emmitt Finnie, while San Jose answered with work from Dmitry Orlov and Ivar Stenberg, setting up a back-and-forth night that stayed tight deep into the third period.
The bigger moment came when Detroit killed an overtime power play and carried the game into the shootout, where Lucas Raymond delivered the decisive goal. Alex DeBrincat had already done his part by tying it late in regulation, and the win offered a glimpse of the kind of urgency and resilience the Red Wings have been trying to bottle all season. [Read more 🡒]
Sabres Suddenly Have A Goalie Market Twist Worth Watching
A goalie picture that looked settled is suddenly a lot murkier around the league, with Connor Hellebuycks suspension from the Winnipeg Jets set to end Oct. 23 and his return now looming over a situation that already had more than enough moving parts. For Detroit fans, the bigger ripple effect comes from Dylan Larkin, whose status has become one of the more closely watched storylines on the market as teams around the NHL keep probing for ways to improve, including Torontos search for a major defense upgrade.
Larkins situation has only added urgency to a trade landscape that already feels like it could shift quickly. He has reportedly asked for a move, and while the Red Wings have kept him in the lineup and tried to navigate the uncertainty, the chatter around a possible deal has only intensified as clubs position themselves ahead of the next wave of roster movement. [Read more 🡒]