Wings Stay Hot: DeBrincat Stars in 4–3 Win Over Flames
It was just last Saturday, when I was out with friends, that we got into a debate about whether the Red Wings were truly a playoff team. The overwhelming response was lukewarm at best — shaky goaltending, no bona fide superstar, tough conference… all the usual reasons.
Well, fast forward five days, and I can’t help but wonder: if we had that conversation again today, would anyone feel differently?
The Detroit Red Wings are flying high on this road trip, and their latest stop in Western Canada kept the momentum rolling. In a game that started as a blowout and ended as a nail-biter, Detroit escaped the Saddledome with a gritty 4–3 win over the Calgary Flames on Wednesday night.
The victory pushed the Wings’ winning streak to three and moved them alone into first place in the Atlantic Division — ahead of both Boston and Tampa Bay. And while two points are two points, this was a night loaded with explosive offense, late-game intrigue, and a concerning injury to one of Detroit’s emerging young stars.
DeBrincat & Co. Take Over Early
Let’s start with the obvious: Alex DeBrincat was unstoppable.
Detroit’s leading scorer continued his torrid pace, piling up two goals and an assist while extending his personal point streak to five games. He’s been the engine of the Wings’ offensive surge — and tonight was another masterclass.
Barely a minute into the game, Patrick Kane threaded a perfect cross-ice pass to DeBrincat, who hammered home a one-timer to silence the Calgary crowd. Kane finished with two assists, and the chemistry with DeBrincat and Larkin continues to be elite.
Then came the youth movement.
Rookie defenseman Axel Sandin Pellikka jumped into the rush and buried a setup from DeBrincat, making it 2–0. ASP has been playing beyond his years — I mentioned it just the other day after the Vancouver game — and this goal was another reminder that he’s quickly becoming a difference-maker.
Detroit kept pouring it on in the second:
- At 7:41, DeBrincat snapped home his second goal after Andrew Copp forced a turnover.
- Ninety seconds later, Dylan Larkin capped a 2-on-1 rush to make it 4–0.
After a cool start to the season, DeBrincat has been red hot. He’s now up to 16 goals and 34 points, putting him on pace for a career-best 42 goals and 90 points.
Gibson Holds Firm — Until Things Got Interesting
With a four-goal cushion, I did what any reasonable person would do: assumed the game was over and wandered off to work on my Mitten Minute update. Gibson looked headed for back-to-back shutouts, Detroit was rolling, and it felt perfectly safe to take my eyes off the screen… famous last words.
When I got back about halfway through the third, things had taken a turn. Suddenly it was 4–2, and the Flames had life.
First, Joel Farabee scored on a penalty shot.
Then Matt Coronato cut it to 4–2.
And about five minutes later, MacKenzie Weegar hammered one home, pulling Calgary within a single shot of tying the game.
Nothing comes easy on a road trip. Three goals in seven minutes — and now the game had my full attention again.
From there, though, Gibson settled in and held the fort. Detroit bent but didn’t break, closing out their seventh straight win over Calgary, the longest active streak they have against any opponent.
“We Have a Higher Standard”
Despite the win, forward Andrew Copp didn’t sugarcoat the team’s uneven performance.
“We’re not in the business of being mad about wins, but we have a higher standard than that,” Copp told reporters. “At this point of the year, you’ll never turn down two points. But after the first 10 minutes of the third, we stopped skating.”
I watched the postgame and his coach, Todd McLellan, echoed Copp’s assessment, saying that the team needs to rest up and get their legs back before Edmonton.
Injury Concerns on the Blue Line
With the good comes the bad…
Simon Edvinsson, who has been logging over 20 minutes per night, left in the third with a lower-body injury. He had blocked a shot in the second and attempted to continue, but could only manage one short shift before shutting it down. His status is very much in doubt for Thursday.
Meanwhile, Detroit placed Mason Appleton on IR earlier in the day. To bolster the blue line, the Wings recalled Erik Gustafsson from Grand Rapids. He’s been phenomenal in the AHL — 14 points and a +13 in 14 games — and could slide right into the lineup if Edvinsson can’t go.
Up Next: Edmonton. McDavid. Draisaitl. No Breathers Allowed.
The road trip continues Thursday night with a massive measuring-stick matchup against the Oilers.
Edmonton brings a very different challenge than Calgary — elite speed, elite talent, and the best duo in hockey. Detroit will need far more than 50 good minutes to keep their place atop the Atlantic.
But for now, Wings fans can enjoy:
- A four-game winning streak
- An elite-level DeBrincat run
- First place in the division
- And a team that believes it can make some noise this season
The game will be broadcast to a national audience on ESPN+ — puck drops at 9 PM ET in Edmonton.
Now tell the truth, did you shut it down after the 2nd period? 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.
