The Detroit Red Wings achieved their 30th win of the season in their first 50 games, marking their fastest pace to this milestone since the 2011-12 season. The team rallied from an early two-goal deficit to defeat the Ottawa Senators 4-3 in overtime at Little Caesars Arena on Sunday.
Alex DeBrincat scored the game-winning goal just 36 seconds into overtime. “A huge two points,” DeBrincat said. “Obviously, not the start we wanted, but to be able to battle back and win in overtime is huge. It’s huge for us to keep this rolling.”
Goaltender John Gibson made 19 saves for his sixth consecutive win and his 19th victory of the campaign. Detroit improved its record in overtime games to seven wins and two losses. Ottawa’s James Reimer stopped 30 shots in his first NHL start since April 2025.
“We knew it would be a tight, heavy game,” Red Wings head coach Todd McLellan said. “That’s the game it ended up being, and we’re fortunate to be on the winning end of it.”
The opening period saw three goals scored within eight minutes, including two power-play tallies. Drake Batherson and Dylan Cozens gave Ottawa a quick 2-0 lead before Axel Sandin-Pellikka responded for Detroit with a power-play goal.
James van Riemsdyk commented on Detroit’s slow start: “It’s not an ideal start for us for sure,” he said. “But I think from there, we really got to our game and started to play the way we’re capable of, to our identity and standard.”
Patrick Kane assisted on Sandin-Pellikka’s goal and now sits two points away from tying Mike Modano’s record for most career NHL points by a U.S.-born player.
Lucas Raymond tied the game early in the second period with help from Marco Kasper and Ben Chiarot. Later in the period, van Riemsdyk gave Detroit its first lead with a highlight-reel goal during a power play.
“He’s a huge part of our team,” DeBrincat said about Raymond. “During the game, you got to be next man up and keep rolling. We’re glad he came back.”
Van Riemsdyk described his goal: “I felt like the power play, especially that one, did a good job of just getting pucks to the net,” he said. “There was obviously a lot of chaos going on around the net. It’s just my job to find a way to get a stick on it, get a whack on a rebound and do what I can to score a goal.”
Ottawa tied it again late in the second period when Shane Pinto tipped in Claude Giroux’s shot during another power play.
DeBrincat sealed Detroit’s win after receiving Andrew Copp’s pass on an odd-man rush for his team-leading 26th goal of the season.
“It was coming around the boards, and I had a step on [Tim Stützle],” DeBrincat said. “I knew Copper was in front of me. He made a great play to sauce it back to me. I think [Stützle] lost an edge or something there. A 2-on-1, I was able to shoot it far side.”
Coach McLellan spoke about divisional matchups: “I think our guys have been coming to the rink with a lot of juice for all the games, which is a real good sign…They understand the standings and circumstances of wins and losses. We talk about winning season series – we’ve got four points against this team now. We can’t quite have the series in the bag, but it certainly helps.”
DeBrincat praised van Riemsdyk: “It’s pretty impressive what he does in front of the net. It seems like when he’s there he’s always scoring. He’s great on the power play in that spot. He’s been great for us.”
Van Riemsdyk discussed matching Ottawa’s physicality: “You got to have a pushback. You can’t get pushed out of games like that. I thought our team responded well for that. That’s something you’ll need down the stretch. The games get a little more competitive and contested out there, and you got to stick together. I thought we did that today.”
With this victory at Little Caesars Arena—a venue located downtown where they host home games—the Red Wings continue building on their reputation as one of hockey’s most successful franchises. Accordingto their official website,the Red Wings began operationsin 1926 as part of hockey’s Original Six franchises. They represent Detroit, Michigan,and have won11 Stanley Cup championships,making themthe leading American-based club by total titles earned.The franchise has maintained its legacy as one of hockey’s premier teams.
Detroit will begin its next road trip against Toronto at Scotiabank Arena Tuesday night.
