In their first game back from the all-star break and mandatory bye-week, the Detroit Red Wings got off to a flying start against the Vancouver Canucks. Lucas Raymond scored a sensational goal just 45 seconds into the first period. This was Raymond’s 13th goal of the 2023-24 NHL season and his seventh point in his last five games played. This is good for second place on the Red Wings’ roster behind Dylan Larkin and Alex DeBrincat.
Raymond, the Gothenburg, Sweden native, seemingly got the attention of the Canucks and was hit by Nikita Zadorov, who is 6’6” tall, which is seven inches taller than Raymond. Raymond would return to the game in the second period. If the left-winger wants to survive in the NHL, at his size, he will need to bulk up if he cannot learn to play with the footwork that saw him score what some are calling a potential “goal of the year” candidate.
The Canucks had already played two games after the all-star break and had thus knocked the “rust” off their games. This left the team tied with the Boston Bruins for the best record in the NHL with 34-11-6 prior to the game against the Red Wings and the ability to bounce back by scoring three unanswered goals. Perhaps it was the fact that this was the first game for the Red Wings that caused them to struggle in the second period. The fact that Vancouver was able to score immediately after Detroit had seven straight minutes on the power play was indicative of this poor play.
Former Detroit Red Wing defenseman Filip Hronek had a goal and two assists for the Canucks that helped the team get out to a 3-1 lead in the second period. The Red Wings team has struggled playing in the second period, being outscored by a total of 178 goals against, which is the fourth most in the NHL this season. The Red Wings bounced back in the third period, as they have done many times this season.
Daniel Sprong and Michael Rasmussen both scored in the third period to draw the Red Wings level with the Canucks. This has been something that head coach Derek Lalonde has instilled in the Red Wings in his first year and a half as head coach of the team. During his introductory press conference, Lalonde preached that winning would come as the result of a process. As the Red Wings are currently in the hunt for their first playoff birth in seven seasons, the team seems to have taken this message to heart.
Jake Walman scored the game-winning goal and hit his trademark “celly.” This time on a penalty shot in overtime that won the game by a score of 4-3. Both griddy goals came against goaltender Casey DeSmith. The first time that Walman hit the griddy was against the Montreal Canadiens. The Red Wings marketing team took notice and gave away Jake Walman griddy bobbleheads. It will be interesting to see what the team does in reaction to this second griddy goal.
The Red Wings next game will be on Tuesday night against the Edmonton Oilers. The Oilers recently lost their first game in 17 to the Vegas Golden Knights. The Red Wings’ defense will have to deal with Connor McDavid, who is widely considered the best player in the NHL, and Leon Draisaitl, who is another offensive talent on the Oilers roster. The Oilers have a record of 47-30-16. This has the Oilers in third place in the Pacific Division of the Western Conference.
