Hats off to Lucas Raymond: Red Wings Throttle Chicago 6-3

The Detroit Red Wings played its second Original Six foe in as many nights, this time the Chicago Blackhawks. The results were much different this time, with Detroit notching a 6-3 victory in Chicago, paced by a Lucas Raymond hat trick.

Before the puck could drop, head coach Jeff Blashill indicated he was sitting Filip Hronek for the second consecutive game, and being cryptic with his reasoning. This would come back to bite Detroit later in the first period.

The Red Wings opened the scoring when Tyler Bertuzzi found an open Lucas Raymond who had an unopposed chance at the net, burying it five hole to give Detroit a 1-0 lead. The Blackhawks tied it up later in the first when Danny DeKesyer tried to tie up Tyler Johnson who somehow fought through it, and mustered a shot past Alex Nedeljkovic to tie the game at one.

This only makes the decision to scratch Hronek a more confusing one–DeKeyser has struggled mightily in the early start to this season and despite his best effort, didn’t have the strength to fend Johnson off. The Red Wings were gifted a four minute double minor but never got a chance to set up after Dylan Larkin took a holding the stick penalty and then Robby Fabbri took one later during four on four that gave Chicago a brief four on three power play opportunity. The period ended deadlocked at one.

The second period was more end to end and the Red Wings had an early power play chance killed. But Carter Rowney netted his first goal as.a Red Wing when he capitalized off a rebound chance to put Detroit back up 2-1. Next it was Vladislav Namestnikov, who banged home a rebound chance after a rush from Detroit that upped the advantage to 3-1.

The Red Wings would get another one, their third in just over five minutes, when Larkin scooped up the puck at center ice, wrapped around the net, and put a shot on, which ricocheted off Tyler Bertuzzi, then Johnson’s skate, and into the net. Suddenly, Detroit had a three goal lead.

But after Marc Staal took an ill advised penalty with a cross check, the Blackhawks Dominik Kubalik cashed in with a one-timer past Nedeljkovic pulling Chicago within two.

The Red Wings, though, would pot one more before the second intermission. After a shot whistled wide from Filip Zadina, the Hawks had a quick rush that was cut off by Nick Leddy. He then patiently waited for a stretch pass, which allowed Detroit to gain entry. Raymond carried it in, Bertuzzi controlled it, and then found Larkin in the slot, whose shot was kicked out by Fleury. But Raymond zipped in, batting the puck into the net for his second of the game, giving Detroit a 5-2 lead heading into the third.

The Blackhawks scored early in the third to pull within two again. It was the second time in the evening that a Red Wings defender was unable to outmuscle his counterpart, and it resulted in a goal.

Raymond would strike again, though, getting his third goal of the game and his first career hat trick, giving Detroit a 6-3 lead.

Detroit would kill off two five on three penalties (one was only 7 seconds fairly), but in a crucial turn, Blashill successfully challenged a goal that came on the first five on three.

Seconds later, Nedeljkovic utterly robbed Alex DeBrincat on a point blank chance, snuffing out another scoring chance, and sucking whatever momentum Chicago had left out of the building.

The Wings closed the final four of five minutes with a power play and played keep away, ensuring a well earned 6-3 victory over the winless Blackhawks.