Detroit finally got what it had been chasing to open the 2026-27 season: a win.
Behind a big night from Dylan Larkin and Alex DeBrincat, the Red Wings held off the Ottawa Senators 5-3. Larkin finished with two points, while DeBrincat piled up three as Detroit steadied itself after a rough start to the year.
The night also turned into a milestone moment for two rookies. Carter Mazur and William Wallinder both picked up the first NHL points of their careers, and both came in during Detroit’s three-goal stretch that bridged the second and first periods. Wallinder set up the primary assist on Justin Faulk’s game-deciding goal late in the second.
Detroit’s bench also had its share of edge late, with all of the Red Wings involved in the scrum at the end of the second period after Larkin took issue with Ridly Greig going after DeBrincat with only seconds left before the whistle. Emmitt Finnie, who has already drawn attention for his play with and without the puck, made sure he was part of the moment too.
For Detroit, the result ends a winless stretch that had lasted nearly six months. The last time the Red Wings won before this was April 9 against the Philadelphia Flyers.
Now they get a brief reset. Detroit has a two-day break before facing the Seattle Kraken on Friday, and with three games already in the books, the Red Wings have a chance to finish their four-game homestand at .500.
“I haven’t been disappointed in our team at all, and we only have two of six points, so we’ll
continue to grow it, and hopefully that solves some of the other things that are going on.” head coach Todd McLellan said.
In Other News...
Dylan Larkins Return Came With A Reality Red Wings Fans Cant Ignore
Dylan Larkins return to the Red Wings lineup after missing two games with an upper-body injury gave Detroit a familiar jolt, even if the circumstances around him remain anything but simple. He had already been through a summer trade request, and the noise around that decision has not faded, but he was back on the ice and helped the Red Wings beat the Ottawa Senators 5-3 with the kind of night Detroit needs from one of its most important players.
The return also came with a reminder that the situation is still uncomfortable for everyone involved. Larkin heard boos from fans and took some chirping from opponents, but he said his focus is on playing and helping the team win until a trade happens. For now, the Red Wings are getting production from a player whose future has been a topic all season, and that reality is hard for their fans to ignore. [Read more 🡒]
Red Wings Fans Got A Response That Only Deepened The Frustration
The early-season mood around Little Caesars Arena has already turned sour, and Chris Ilitch tried to meet that frustration head-on with a letter posted on LinkedIn. After a 1-2 start, Red Wings fans have made their displeasure clear with chants to sell the team and boos directed at captain Dylan Larkin, and the organization is now leaning on promotions to help fill the building while the noise around the club keeps growing.
What made the response land so awkwardly is what it left unsaid. Ilitchs note addressed the frustration, but it did not touch on Steve Yzermans removal or the ongoing search for a new general manager, and the questions around the front office are only getting louder as the situation around top defenseman Simon Edvinsson adds another layer of uncertainty for a team already trying to calm its fan base. [Read more 🡒]
Dylan Larkin's Return Gave The Red Wings Something They Desperately Needed
Dylan Larkins first game back gave the Red Wings the jolt they had been waiting for. Detroit looked more composed from the start in its home meeting with Ottawa, staying out of early penalty trouble and playing with the kind of urgency that had been missing during a winless stretch that dragged on for nearly six months. Alex DeBrincat led the way offensively with three points, and head coach Todd McLellan had plenty of reason to like the way his team responded around its captains return.
Larkin made the kind of immediate impact Detroit needed, scoring in a game the Red Wings controlled on the way to a 5-2 victory. It was the teams first lead of the season, a small but meaningful marker for a club trying to reset its tone after a frustrating start. The bigger question now is whether this was a one-night spark or the beginning of the Red Wings finally finding the steady play they have been searching for. [Read more 🡒]