Detroit City Wire

The Detroit Red Wings ended 2024 on a high note with a 4-2 victory over the Pittsburgh Penguins at Little Caesars Arena. This win marked their second consecutive victory and was also notable as Todd McLellan achieved his 600th win as an NHL head coach.

Alex Lyon, the Red Wings' goalie, emphasized the importance of maintaining consistency. “We just got to keep it going,” he said. “Whether we’re going on the road or at home, we just got to continue to play a consistent brand of hockey."

Lyon contributed significantly to the win with 23 saves. Meanwhile, Alex Nedeljkovic stopped 21 shots for the Penguins. McLellan downplayed his milestone achievement by focusing on the team's progress: “It was more for this group than it is about me," he stated.

The game saw Vladimir Tarasenko setting up Jonatan Berggren for a breakaway goal early in the first period, giving Detroit an initial lead. Berggren credited some luck and Tarasenko's skillful pass for his success.

Drew O’Connor equalized for Pittsburgh before Patrick Kane restored Detroit's lead with a power-play goal in the second period. The Penguins tied it again early in the third, but J.T. Compher scored another power-play goal to regain Detroit’s advantage.

Dylan Larkin secured the victory with an empty-net goal late in the game, assisted by Lucas Raymond and Joe Veleno.

Reflecting on their performance, Lyon highlighted their strategy: “I think that’s the one trap that we could fall in... Every game is important.”

Looking ahead, Detroit will face off against Columbus Blue Jackets on Thursday night as they begin a two-game road trip.

McLellan noted their strong start: “We’ve kind of set an early standard for coming out of the gate." He praised his team’s ability to respond well throughout different periods of play.

Berggren appreciated his increased playing time and felt positive pressure from additional minutes: "When you get more minutes, it’s more pressure on you. I kind of like it."