Red Wings Get Back on Track in Ottawa, Break Streaks in Gritty 5–3 Win
Sometimes a win means more than two points.
For the Detroit Red Wings, Monday night in Ottawa checked several overdue boxes at once. It snapped a road drought in a building they hadn’t won in since 2020, removed a Senators-sized thorn that’s lingered for years, and got Detroit back on the winning track after a stretch that’s required more grit than glamour.
The Wings defeated the Ottawa Senators 5–3 — not by controlling play, but by striking early, breaking multiple streaks, and leaning heavily on elite goaltending when the ice tilted the wrong way.
It wasn’t pretty. It was effective. And right now, that’s enough.
A Fast Start — Finally
Detroit has spent much of the season chasing games instead of dictating them, often sitting near the bottom of the league in first-period scoring. That trend flipped immediately.
The Wings erupted for three first-period goals, a rare early surge that proved essential later. Playing with a lead allowed Detroit to simplify its game, even as Ottawa gradually took over the run of play.
That early offense also came with a twist. Head coach Todd McLellan shook up his lines pregame, clearly searching for a spark — especially from players who’d been struggling to generate five-on-five offense.
He found one quickly.
Line Shuffle Pays Off for Raymond
One of the biggest beneficiaries of the line changes was Lucas Raymond, who entered the night without a five-on-five goal since November.
Slotted on the third line, Raymond wasted no time responding — ripping a wicked wrist shot past Ottawa goaltender Hunter Shepard during the 2nd period to restore Detroit’s two-goal cushion.
The move didn’t feel punitive. It felt purposeful. And Raymond’s response reinforced that sometimes accountability is about clarity, not criticism.
Rasmussen Ends Another Drought
As the third period unfolded, Ottawa pushed hard. Shots piled up. Zone time stretched. Momentum was clearly shifting.
Then came the play that changed everything.
With Detroit killing a penalty, Michael Rasmussen jumped a loose puck, broke free, and buried a shorthanded goal — Detroit’s first in 77 games.
It wasn’t just a goal. It was a release valve. A two-goal cushion that finally slowed Ottawa’s push and broke yet another quiet streak that had lingered all season.
Gibson Was the Difference
This game could — and probably should — have gone Ottawa’s way.
The Senators outshot Detroit 38–20 and controlled large portions of the final 40 minutes. If not for John Gibson, this recap reads very differently.
Gibson stopped 35 of 38 shots, finishing with a .921 save percentage and repeatedly bailing the Wings out during extended defensive-zone sequences. For over a month now, he’s been outstanding — calm, technically sharp, and consistent.
Given how often Detroit has been outshot recently, it’s fair to wonder where this team would be in the standings without him.
Power Plays Cancel Each Other Out
Special teams offered little separation:
- Detroit: 1-for-5 (20%)
- Ottawa: 1-for-6 (16.7%)
The difference wasn’t power-play execution — it was Detroit’s ability to strike early at even strength and deliver the shorthanded knockout punch when it mattered most.
First Place… With Context
Yes, Detroit sits atop the division and conference standings.
But the picture isn’t as comfortable as the points column suggests. Several teams chasing the Wings have two, three, and even four games in hand, making the lead feel somewhat like fool’s gold.
For now, the approach is simple: keep stacking points. You can’t control the math — only the results in front of you.
Monday night delivered two more.
Danielson Sent Down as Roster Tightens
There was breaking news on Tuesday morning. The Detroit Red Wings reassigned Nate Danielson, the ninth overall pick in the 2023 NHL Draft, to the AHL’s Grand Rapids Griffins after an 11-game point drought. Danielson flashed early — posting four points in his first nine NHL games — but managed just three points over his final 19 as ice time became harder to find.
With Detroit recently recalling John Leonard and pushing for points in a crowded race, the move feels less like a setback and more like a reset. Danielson now returns to a Griffins team having a historic season, where heavy minutes and offensive responsibility should help him rediscover his confidence and keep him firmly in Detroit’s long-term plans.
Stat Capsule 🏒
Final Score: Red Wings 5, Senators 3
Shots: Ottawa 38, Detroit 20
Game Changers
- Michael Rasmussen: Shorthanded goal (Detroit’s first SHG in 77 games)
- Lucas Raymond: First 5-on-5 goal since November
- John Gibson: 35 saves on 38 shots (.921 SV%)
Special Teams
- Power Play: Detroit 1-for-5 | Ottawa 1-for-6
- Shorthanded Goals: Detroit 1, Ottawa 0
Team Trends
- Three first-period goals (rare early offense)
- Snapped Ottawa road drought (no win there since 2020)
- Outshot heavily but finished efficiently and defended leads
Scoring Breakdown (DET):
Copp (1st), Larkin (PP, 1st), van Riemsdyk (1st), Raymond (2nd), Rasmussen (SH, 3rd)
Food for Thought 🤔
Is sending Danielson down the right development move — and how long before the Wings have to make a similar decision with Kasper? Drop a comment below, or join the conversation in the Red Wings Wheelhouse — where fans break down every game, every angle.
Info gathered from team reports, pressers & trusted media outlets — the way we always do it at Mitten Sports Talk.
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