Detroit City Wire

The Detroit Red Wings secured a victory against the Winnipeg Jets with a 4-2 win on Saturday night at Canada Life Centre. The game saw the Red Wings take an early lead in the first period and maintain it throughout, despite pressure from the Jets.

Lucas Raymond contributed significantly to the win with a power-play goal and two assists, marking his first three-point performance of the season. "It’s a big win, for sure," Raymond stated. He noted that their recent performances have been strong, saying, "I feel like we’ve played some really good hockey lately."

Special teams were crucial for Detroit (17-18-4; 38 points), who excelled both on the power play and penalty kill. The Jets (27-12-2; 56 points) entered the game with the league's top power-play success rate but struggled against Detroit's defense.

Head coach Todd McLellan praised his team's special teams efforts: “They’ve done a really good job,” he said, highlighting improvements in their penalty killing strategy since joining forces with Trent Yawney.

Dylan Larkin opened scoring for Detroit with a power-play goal early in the game. This was part of Larkin's continued streak of goals and points over consecutive games.

In addition to Larkin's contributions, Raymond scored another power-play goal in the second period with assists from Moritz Seider and Patrick Kane. Despite Winnipeg narrowing the gap twice during the match, Alex DeBrincat extended Detroit's lead again in the third period before Larkin sealed victory with an empty-net goal late in regulation time.

Goalie Alex Lyon made 21 saves during the match and acknowledged their successful power play: “Obviously, our power play has been clicking all year.”

The Red Wings now prepare to face off against Ottawa Senators as they begin a three-game homestand at Little Caesars Arena on Tuesday night.

Coach McLellan commented on team dynamics post-holiday break: “The belief system has grown... I give players credit for moving forward.” Lucas Raymond also emphasized their effective penalty kill against Winnipeg’s formidable offense.