DETROIT – The Detroit Red Wings snapped their slump Thursday, Nov. 13, ending a three-game losing streak with a thrilling 6-3 victory over the Anaheim Ducks at Little Caesars Arena.
After struggling to find the back of the net in recent games, the Wings had fans on their feet with a strong offensive performance.
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The team was firing on all fronts.
Moritz Seider and Dylan Larkin each had a goal and an assist, while Lucas Raymond and Jonatan Berggren added two assists each.
Alex DeBrincat led the offensive charge with two goals and an assist, and Patrick Kane had two assists.
Additionally, Axel Sandin-Pellikka and Michael Rasmussen chipped in with a goal apiece.
John Gibson started in goal against his former team, giving up two goals on 17 shots before exiting the game after the second period due to an upper-body injury.
Cam Talbot took over for the third, stopping 10 of 11 shots.
The severity of Gibson’s injury is unknown, but he took part in practice Friday, Nov. 14, which is a positive sign.
The Wings benefited from a rare three-day break following their 5-1 loss to the Chicago Blackhawks on Sunday.
The extra time allowed for back-to-back practices which helped the team regain its form.
“It helps a lot when you get some rest and you can work on some things you wouldn’t normally work on,” DeBrincat said.
After the Nov. 7 game against the New York Rangers, forward Lucas Raymond said the offense was struggling because the team was overthinking -- looking for the perfect shot instead of making the most of any chance.
“I think we’re a little bit too much on the outside, looking for that perfect opportunity,” Raymond said. “Guys not getting to the net. We’re not getting to those dirty areas where a lot of the goals are scored. It’s about keeping it simple. We got a lot of guys in this room that can score goals.”
Coach Todd McLellan said the team’s return to a straightforward approach -- getting shots off deflections and through traffic -- was a major factor in their offensive comeback.
Another key improvement was the power play, which had been struggling recently, converting just 1 for 20 over the last five games.
In this game, however, the Wings scored twice on power play opportunities.
McLellan celebrated the turnaround, saying, “I talked last week about our power play being upside down a little bit — well, it got righted.”
The Red Wings hope to build on the momentum of the win when they face the Buffalo Sabres at home Saturday and the New York Rangers on Sunday.
“It’s been miserable around the last few days, which it should be,” McLellan said. “We expect more from each other, staff included, but this alleviates the misery for a night. We’ve got to get back on the ice tomorrow and make sure we remember the lessons we learned the last couple days.”