A Post-Christmas Reality Check: Red Wings Sitting Atop the East After Dallas Win
Christmas week has a way of blurring time. Family gatherings, late nights, packed schedules — and before you know it, the calendar flips. But as things settle on the morning after Christmas, one thing stands out clearly in Hockeytown: the Detroit Red Wings are sitting at the very top of the Eastern Conference.
Yes, that’s real. No double take required.
Thanks in large part to their Dec. 23 overtime win over the Dallas Stars, the Red Wings reached the holiday break not just playing well — but leading their division and tied atop the East. It’s the kind of sentence that would’ve felt impossible just one year ago.
And while the league paused for Christmas, the significance of where Detroit stands only grew clearer with a little distance.
This isn’t hype anymore. This is reality.
Larkin Leads the Way in Statement Win vs. Dallas
The tone was set before Christmas ever arrived.
Detroit closed out play on Dec. 23 with a thrilling 4–3 overtime victory over the Dallas Stars at Little Caesars Arena, extending their winning streak to three games and sending the Wings into the break with momentum — and belief.
Against one of the Western Conference’s heavyweights, the Wings showed patience, structure, and resilience. None more than captain Dylan Larkin.
Larkin buried the game-tying power-play goal late in the third period, then wasted no time finishing things off. Just 34 seconds into overtime, he used his speed to create space and snapped the winner past Dallas goaltender Casey DeSmith.
It marked Larkin’s 20th goal of the season — and his fifth straight 20-goal campaign — putting him in rare Red Wings company alongside Henrik Zetterberg and Pavel Datsyuk.
That’s not trivia. That’s legacy territory.
Gibson’s Run in Net Is Changing Everything
While the captain delivered the finish, the foundation was laid in net.
John Gibson continued his remarkable run, stopping 19 shots and earning his eighth straight win. No Red Wings goaltender has done that since Chris Osgood in 2007.
More importantly, Gibson has given Detroit something it hasn’t had in years: calm confidence in goal.
The defense plays freer. Mistakes don’t spiral. Close games stay close.
That’s what real goaltending does — especially this time of year.
Old and New Contributions Matter
One of the quieter — but increasingly important — storylines in Detroit’s surge is where the offense is coming from.
Rookie Emmitt Finnie continued his strong early impression by cashing in a power-play goal against Dallas, another sign that this roster isn’t top-heavy. Meaningful contributions are coming from throughout the lineup — and that matters when games tighten.
Just as important, Detroit also got production from the other end of the experience spectrum. Veteran James van Riemsdyk, now 36 and well into a long NHL career, found the net as well. That’s the kind of depth scoring playoff teams rely on — young legs bringing energy, seasoned pros providing timely offense.
When rookies and veterans are both impacting the scoreboard, it’s a sign of a team that’s built to withstand the grind ahead.
Seider, Edvinsson, and a Blue Line Built for April
Every contender has a backbone. For Detroit, it starts on the blue line.
Moritz Seider continues to look every bit like a Norris Trophy candidate. He’s controlling play, winning matchups, and driving possession against top competition — all while logging heavy minutes.
Paired with Simon Edvinsson, Detroit suddenly has a top pairing capable of matching up with anyone in the league.
That’s not something you say lightly in this division.
The Seider-Edvinsson duo gives head coach Todd McLellan a reliable shutdown option — and the luxury to push pace elsewhere in the lineup.
Yzerman’s Position Has Changed — And So Has the Conversation
Success doesn’t lead to complacency — not at this stage. With Detroit sitting atop both the division and the Eastern Conference, the tone around the league has shifted. The Red Wings are no longer being discussed as sellers, or even passive observers, but as a team positioned to add. Needs remain — a true second-line center, another scoring threat, and possibly a steady defensive presence for the bottom pair — and there’s growing belief that Steve Yzerman could have a surprise or two in store.
After last season’s decision to stand pat drew criticism, including candid comments from captain Dylan Larkin, this year presents a very different moment — one that may ultimately define how aggressively Detroit pushes forward.
Next Test Comes Fast
There’s no easing back in.
Detroit returns to action Dec. 27 against the Carolina Hurricanes, a matchup that now carries serious weight. Both teams sit tied atop the Eastern Conference, making this less about standings and more about legitimacy.
The holidays are over. The season’s next phase begins now.
And for the first time in a long time, the Red Wings enter it from the very top.
LGRW.
Stat Capsule 🏒
Dec. 23 vs. Dallas Stars
- Final: Red Wings 4, Stars 3 (OT)
- Larkin: 2 goals (including OT winner)
- Gibson: 19 saves, 8th straight win
- Finnie: Power-play goal
- Team PP: 2-for-3
Will the Red Wings continue to hold their position atop the Eastern Conference? 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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