Detroit forwards Andrew Copp and Mason Appleton, a newcomer to the roster, helped propel the Red Wings to a convincing 5–2 victory over the Buffalo Sabres in their second preseason contest Thursday night.
The Wings closed the game emphatically, scoring three unanswered goals and establishing dominance on the shot clock, outshooting Buffalo 40–18. The lopsided shooting advantage underscored Detroit’s control over both tempo and territory throughout the contest.
This victory held particular significance for Detroit, as it highlighted the team’s depth and versatility. While Nate Danielson and Emmitt Finnie had stolen the spotlight in Tuesday’s preseason win, Thursday offered an opportunity for more seasoned veterans to assert themselves and demonstrate their capacity to drive the team’s success.
How It Happened
Some things in life appear immutable, such as Alexandar Georgiev conceding goals. Early in the contest, Andrew Copp set up Mason Appleton in the slot to give Detroit a 1–0 lead. The sequence began with Copp aggressively forechecking, stripping the puck from a defender, and ultimately creating the scoring opportunity.
While this sequence offers an early glimpse at Detroit’s potential third line, it also suggests that they may have quickly established themselves as a dependable unit in the lineup.
Copp later scored the game’s final goal, batting in a rebound that ricocheted off Georgiev’s stick and into the air. The play resembled the unpredictability of a foul ball in baseball: the puck was deflected and airborne, leaving Georgiev little chance to make the stop—an unfortunate but telling sequence, given that stopping such attempts is not exactly his hallmark.
Other Notables
One name quietly emerging this preseason is Axel Sandin-Pellikka. The Swedish defenseman was outstanding on Tuesday, demonstrating not only strong skating and precise puck movement but also a keen sense of timing on the breakout.
He elevated his game further on Thursday, executing a flawless defensive stop on a one-on-one rush before setting up Michael Brandsegg-Nygård for a power-play goal, marking his first point of the preseason. In many ways, Sandin-Pellikka offered a complete performance, blending the defensive reliability of Devon Toews with glimpses of the offensive creativity of Cale Makar.
Brandsegg-Nygård was largely effective throughout the game, displaying solid play and physicality that contributed to several key sequences. However, he incurred two penalties, a notable concern given that the Red Wings struggled mightily on the penalty kill last season. While his aggressiveness can be an asset, unnecessary infractions are the type of lapses that frustrate coaching staff and can shift momentum to the opposition.
Meanwhile, Dylan Larkin and Moritz Seider each found the back of the net, adding to the team’s offensive highlights.
In goal, Cam Talbot appeared somewhat unsettled, conceding two goals on eight shots before being replaced by Michael Postava, who responded impeccably by stopping all ten shots he faced. The sequence underscored both the potential and inconsistencies present during the Red Wings’ preseason matchups.
Looking Ahead
The Red Wings will take to the road for their next two exhibition matchups against the Pittsburgh Penguins and a rematch with the Sabres, aiming to build on the momentum generated by this commanding performance.