Alex DeBrincat has been putting on a clinic all season for the Detroit Red Wings. He's one of three players averaging over a point per game with 29 points in 28 games as he tries to claw his way onto the United States Olympic Team.
There's worse news for the Columbus Blue Jackets. DeBrincat has historically been sensational when he skates into Nationwide Arena and he continued that trend Thursday night. While the Red Wings fell to the Blue Jackets in a 6-5 thriller on Thursday, DeBrincat once again made his presence felt when he put Detroit up 5-4 nine minutes into the third period.
Craig Merz of NHL.com reminded fans that "DeBrincat has a 12-game road point streak against Columbus dating back to Oct. 20, 2018, the longest such run against the Blue Jackets in NHL history."
That's impressive, considering how much has changed in DeBrincat's career since Oct. 2018. He was a member of the Chicago Blackhawks when it began, before he spent the 2022-23 season with the Ottawa Senators. A blockbuster trade sent DeBrincat to Hockeytown, and regardless of whom he's suiting up for, DeBrincat is guaranteed to enjoy a fine outing when he visits Columbus.
Alex DeBrincat keeps making his mark on the Blue Jackets' home ice
DeBrincat's best outing in a Red Wings uniform against the Blue Jackets at Nationwide Arena occurred on Jan. 2 of this year when he scored three points, including a goal, en route to a 5-4 win for the Red Wings. DeBrincat won the First Star that evening for his efforts.
Since DeBrincat's streak began, he has recorded 17 points and nine goals, giving him an outstanding 1.41 points per game. Seven of those 17 points came on the power play, along with three power-play goals.
DeBrincat won't have a chance to extend that streak again this season, as the Red Wings and Blue Jackets will meet in Detroit instead on Apr. 7. His next chance to extend that streak to 14 games will is set to come next season, when the Wings play two road games in Columbus.