Overtime has been kind to the Red Wings this season - until Thursday night in Minnesota.
Detroit came into the game riding high in extra sessions, boasting an 8-2 record in overtime, including a dramatic win the night before in Toronto. But the magic ran out at Xcel Energy Center, where Kirill Kaprizov needed just 45 seconds of OT to bury his 27th goal of the season and hand the Wild a 4-3 win.
Still, the Red Wings didn’t leave empty-handed. The single point they earned for the overtime loss nudged them past an idle Tampa Bay squad in the Atlantic Division standings. Detroit now sits atop the division at 31-16-5 with 67 points - a testament to how consistently they’ve banked points all year, even in defeat.
There were plenty of bright spots for Detroit in this one, starting with Lucas Raymond. The 21-year-old winger continues to elevate his game, scoring twice - including a power-play goal - to bring his season total to 17. Raymond’s knack for finding soft spots in coverage and finishing with precision is becoming a defining feature of his game, and it showed again against Minnesota.
James van Riemsdyk also made his presence felt, giving the Wings a 3-2 lead early in the third period with a slick backhander. The play started with Emmitt Finnie putting the puck on net.
Van Riemsdyk, parked near the crease, spun around defenseman Brock Faber and tucked the puck past Filip Gustavsson at 5:36. It was van Riemsdyk’s 14th of the season and another example of the veteran’s savvy around the net.
But the Wild answered quickly - and twice - with Mats Zuccarello playing the spoiler. The veteran forward scored both of his goals in the third, including the equalizer just 37 seconds into the period.
That one came after a point shot by Quinn Hughes created chaos in front of Cam Talbot. The rebound kicked out, and Zuccarello pounced, flipping a backhander that deflected in to tie things up 2-2.
Later in the period, Zuccarello struck again off a scramble in front of Talbot, knotting the game at 3-3 and setting the stage for Kaprizov’s overtime winner.
Kaprizov, who had already opened the scoring with a power-play goal in the first period, capped the night with a burst of speed and a sniper’s finish - a reminder of why he’s one of the most dangerous players in the league when the ice opens up in OT.
The Red Wings were missing a key piece on the blue line, as Simon Edvinsson sat out with a lower-body injury. His absence was noticeable, especially in transition and puck movement. Travis Hamonic stepped in for his first game action since December 21, and while he brought a steady veteran presence, the Wings clearly missed Edvinsson’s mobility and puck skills.
Despite the loss, this was another game that showed Detroit’s resilience. They battled back, traded punches with a desperate Wild team, and earned a point on the second night of a back-to-back. That’s the kind of effort that keeps teams in the playoff hunt - and, for now, on top of the division.