Red Wings Win 4-1 as Jakub Vrana Scores in Debut

The Detroit Red Wings had a couple new faces in the lineup and one of those new faces led Detroit to a 4-1 victory over the Chicago Blackhawks. Jakub Vrana scored his first goal as a Red Wing as Detroit pushed their win streak to three games for the first time in over a year.

Duncan Keith opened the scoring when he ripped a shot past Thomas Greiss for a 1-0 lead. The Red Wings would answer in the second period shorthanded when Troy Stecher ripped one past Kevin Lankinen, who looked like that poor victimized goalie in NHL 21–getting a piece of the puck but watching it flutter into the net anyway. The goal followed a Red Wings power play.

Vrana got the next one. Escaping the penalty box after a too many men on the ice call, Vrana buried a breakaway chance giving Detroit a 2-1 lead. Not to be lost on the play–Gustav Lindstrom with the great read to see Vrana leaving and hit him with a tape to tape pass. Though Mantha has two goals in two games with Washington, Vrana already notched his first in as many games with Detroit. We’ll all miss Mantha, but if Vrana keeps this up, it’ll make the sting a little less.

Minutes later, it was Stecher again on a nice forehand-backhand finish that upped the Red Wings lead to 3-1.

The Wings and Hawks traded chances in the third, and the Hawks had some near misses that could have easily tied the game. The Red Wings also had a couple shifts that pinned the Hawks in their own zone for a spell. Michael Rasmussen added an empty netter, and the Red Wings stamped their third consecutive win.

Red Wings Goals

Red Wings Game Notes

• It’s mind-boggling to think that Stecher was a healthy scratch a few weeks ago. Two goals tonight and he’s consistently been the best Red Wings defenseman all season long. Seeing him pot a couple tonight certainly makes a case to let him have more time at 5on5 and with the man advantage.
• How about Vrana in his first game as a Wing? A beautiful feed from Lindstrom and he absolutely makes a massive statement. Boy was it nice to see a Red Wing forward finish a one on one opportunity.
• Three wins in a row for the first time since December 2019. That feels like an eternity ago. I know they need to win the draft, and continue to build getting higher picks, but man is it so much more fun to see them score goals and win games. Imagine when it’s more consistent down the road. Here’s hoping as the kids continue to make their way up (hopefully Joe Veleno sees time after his mandatory quarantine following his arrival to Detroit), the wins continue to come, getting the Wings out of the rebuild.