Wings Survive the Surge on a Night for the Ages: Copp’s OT Winner Caps Fedorov’s Long-Awaited Moment
This was a night Detroit had circled.
A chance to avenge a 5–2 loss in late December.
A chance to extend a three-game winning streak.
And most importantly, a night to finally give Sergei Fedorov his rightful place in the rafters.
For two periods, it felt like the perfect script.
For one chaotic stretch in the third, it felt like it might all unravel.
But on a night when Hockeytown’s past and present collided, the Detroit Red Wings found a way — escaping with a 4–3 overtime win over the Carolina Hurricanes that will be remembered for far more than just two points.
The Ceremony That Was Long Overdue
Let’s start where the night truly began.
Sergei Fedorov’s No. 91 finally rose to the rafters — an honor that was never about if, only when. And yes, it took far too long.
For decades, there was unresolved tension stemming from Fedorov’s departure at the height of Detroit’s dynasty. Turning down a five-year, $50 million offer from the Red Wings to sign with Anaheim for less money wasn’t something the Ilitch family ever forgot. Loyalty mattered — and in their eyes, it had been broken.
Whether it was the influence of family, the desire to be “the guy” elsewhere, or simply timing, Fedorov leaving Detroit altered the arc of his career. He was never quite the same in another jersey — and Monday night, he admitted it himself.
“My biggest mistake was leaving Detroit.”
That line landed like a punch to the chest — honest, reflective, and healing. The speech was heartfelt, funny, and deeply human. And when the banner finally lifted, it felt like closure not just for Fedorov, but for the fanbase.
Detroit deserved this.
And so did Sergei.
A Dominant Start — Wings Looked in Control
Fueled by emotion and home ice, Detroit came out flying.
For forty minutes, the Wings looked ready to turn this into a statement win. James van Riemsdyk opened the scoring with a gritty net-front finish. In the second period, Alex DeBrincat sniped his 24th goal, and Albert Johansson added another to give Detroit a 3–0 lead.
Behind it all was John Gibson, once again calm, composed, and in control.
At that point, it felt like destiny.
The Shots Pile Up — and the Momentum Turns
Then came the third period — and a familiar problem.
Detroit found itself heavily outshot, and as Carolina’s attempts stacked up, the ice tilted. You could feel it coming.
At 4:44 of the third, Jackson Blake broke Gibson’s shutout on the power play, finally giving the Hurricanes life. Just minutes later, Seth Jarvis struck shorthanded after standing up Dylan Larkin at the blue line and finishing a rush set up by Sebastian Aho.
Suddenly, it was 3–2 — and the air left the building.
Then came the gut punch.
On a 5-on-3 advantage, former Wing, Shayne Gostisbehere, unloaded a laser from the high slot with 3:01 remaining, tying the game 3–3 and silencing what had been a roaring crowd.
In a matter of minutes, a storybook night teetered on disaster.
Overtime — and a Little Help From the Hockey Gods
By the time overtime started, it felt like Carolina had the edge.
But sometimes, on nights like this, the hockey gods step in.
At 3:27 of OT, Andrew Copp parked himself in front of the net, took a perfect feed from DeBrincat, and buried the game-winner. Was there contact beforehand? Probably. Should there have been a whistle? Maybe.
Carolina certainly thought so — their bench lingered, hoping for a review that never came.
On this night, Detroit caught a break — and desperately needed it.
Gibson, Once Again, the Backbone
Yes, Gibson gave up three. Yes, one may have been soft.
But without him, this game isn’t even close.
He made several game-saving stops earlier in the third that kept Detroit ahead long enough to survive the collapse. Since early December, Gibson has been nothing short of elite — and without his consistency, the Wings wouldn’t be anywhere near the top of the standings.
He’s earned a lot of grace.
Standings Reality Check
With the win, Detroit sits atop the Atlantic Division and tied with Carolina for the Eastern Conference lead — but this race is anything but settled.
Tampa Bay Lightning have won 10 straight, have two games in hand, and trail by just one point. This is leapfrog season, and every point matters.
Detroit grabbed two when they easily could’ve come away with one — and that may matter a lot come April.
Stat Capsule 🏒 Wings 4, Hurricanes 3 (OT)
In Net
- 🧤 John Gibson: 31 saves on 34 shots (.912)
- Faced heavy pressure late (16 shots in the 3rd)
Special Teams
- DET PP: 1-for-4
- CAR PP: 2-for-5 (+ shorthanded goal)
- All three Hurricanes goals came on special teams
Goals (DET):
- van Riemsdyk
- DeBrincat (24th)
- Johansson
- Copp (OT winner)
Shots: CAR 34 | DET 18
Bigger Picture
Detroit flirted with disaster — but found a way out.
They were outshot, out-possessed late, and on the brink of letting a perfect night slip away. Instead, they survived — on a night when losing simply wasn’t an option.
History was honored.
Points were banked.
And the banner finally rose.
Food for Thought 🤔
Was this win more about destiny — or a reminder that Detroit still has work to do closing out games? 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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