Red Wings Grind Out a Point in Pittsburgh, Fall in OT as Olympic Snub Fuel the Fire
After ringing in the New Year with a gritty, emotional 2–1 win over the Winnipeg Jets on New Year’s Eve, the Detroit Red Wings barely had time to exhale.
Instead of celebrating, they boarded a plane.
A New Year’s Day road game in Pittsburgh is never easy — and this one came with an added wrinkle. The Penguins were rested. Detroit wasn’t. And six minutes into the game, it looked like that advantage might be decisive.
Sidney Crosby — the old nemesis — struck twice in the opening frame, including a power-play goal, giving Pittsburgh a quick 2–0 lead and threatening to turn this into a long afternoon for the Red Wings.
But here’s the thing about this team:
You have to play the whole game against them.
And Pittsburgh learned that the hard way.
How Detroit Climbed Back (And Refused to Fold)
Detroit didn’t panic — they settled in.
Late in the first period, James van Riemsdyk cut the deficit in half, tipping home a power-play shot with 2:14 remaining after a perfectly placed puck from Marco Kasper. It didn’t change the scoreboard much — but it changed the feel.
Then just 61 seconds into the second period, the game flipped.
Andrew Copp tied it at 2–2 after Ben Chiarot’s entry pass from the red line deflected unexpectedly to the front of the net, catching Pittsburgh flat-footed. It wasn’t pretty — it was opportunistic. And it mattered.
Pittsburgh reclaimed the lead midway through the third, but once again, Detroit refused to go quietly.
With just three minutes remaining, Alex DeBrincat buried a power-play goal to tie the game at 3–3, and honestly — it almost felt inevitable. This team believes it’s never out of a game, and they play like it.
Overtime didn’t last long. Kris Letang ended it just 58 seconds in, finishing a play set up by — who else — Sidney Crosby.
A 4–3 OT loss on the scoreboard.
But context matters.
Down 2–0 early.
Down 3–2 late.
On the road.
On tired legs.
That single point proved valuable, keeping Detroit atop both the Atlantic Division and the Eastern Conference — holding a slim one-point edge over Tampa Bay in each race.
Stat Capsule 🏒
Final: Penguins 4, Red Wings 3 (OT)
Shots: PIT 31 | DET 27
Hits: DET 21 | PIT 15
Power Play: DET 2-for-8 (25%) | PIT 1-for-3 (33%)
Faceoff Win %: PIT 52.6% | DET 47.4%
Red Wings Goal Scorers
- 🥅 James van Riemsdyk (PP)
- 🥅 Andrew Copp
- 🥅 Alex DeBrincat (PP)
Assists of Note
- Marco Kasper (1)
- Simon Edvinsson (1)
- Ben Chiarot (1)
- Patrick Kane (1)
- Lucas Raymond (1)
- Dylan Larkin (1)
In Net
- 🧤 Cam Talbot: 27 saves on 31 shots
Crosby Still Has It — And Then Some
There’s no way around it — Sidney Crosby was vintage.
Two goals in the first six minutes.
A power-play marker.
An overtime assist.
His performance:
- Extended his point streak to five games
- Marked his 127th career game-opening goal (ties Gordie Howe for 4th all-time)
- His 111th multi-goal game, passing Brendan Shanahan
You don’t have to like it — but you have to respect it.
Olympic Rosters… and One Name Missing
The Olympic rosters dropped, and yes — the Red Wings will be represented.
- Dylan Larkin (Team USA)
- Lucas Raymond (Team Sweden)
- Moritz Seider (Team Germany)
All deserved.
But let’s say this clearly and move on.
Alex DeBrincat should be on Team USA.
I’m putting it on record.
His scoring pace.
His consistency.
His ability to change a game in one shift.
Leaving him off is baffling — and if history tells us anything, it might be the best fuel Detroit could ask for as this season rolls forward.
What Comes Next
The Wings won’t have to wait long for a response.
Detroit and Pittsburgh meet again in a home-and-home, starting Saturday at noon at Little Caesars Arena. Same opponent. Same stakes. And a Red Wings team that’s made a habit out of answering adversity.
If this road point was any indication — this group isn’t going anywhere.
Do you still view Crosby as a villain, or are you admiring his longevity and skill as he approaches 39? 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.
