For fans looking for a redemption arc, they got one as the Detroit Red Wings cruised to a big win on Thursday night, upending the Anaheim Ducks, 6-3. Getting a three-goal win against a good hockey team was exactly what the Wings needed after it looked like they ran out of talent offensively across a three-game stretch that saw opponents outscore them 10-2.
Alex DeBrincat once again showed why he deserves more recognition than he has gotten so far among US-born hockey players, collecting three points and two goals, while Lucas Raymond, Jonatan Berggren, Dylan Larkin, Moritz Seider, and Patrick Kane all collected two points.
That said, the win came at a cost, with John Gibson leaving the game with an upper-body injury. Gibson, who has been up-and-down so far in 2025-26, made 15 saves on 17 shots before leaving, with Cam Talbot coming in to relieve him. Talbot saved 10 of 11 shots.
Detroit Red Wings affiliate finds insurance in the crease
With their own goaltenders struggling with injuries, the Grand Rapids Griffins found insurance in Dustin Tokarski, inking him to a PTO. Now in his age-36 season, Tokarski has a history of bouncing back and forth between the NHL and AHL, and with so many injuries going on in the net, there might be a chance he sees extended playing time in Grand Rapids.
It's also not out of the question that he signs with the Red Wings, depending on the severity of John Gibson's injury, and ends up getting NHL minutes. Tokarski did see playing time in 2024-25 for the Carolina Hurricanes, finishing a six-game stint with a 2.18 GAA, a 0.902 save percentage, and a shutout.
He spent most of his time with the Chicago Wolves, ending the year with 21 games, a 2.84 GAA, an 0.897 save percentage, and two shutouts. Overall, Tokarski is a seasoned veteran with ample NHL experience who can fill in if needed.
Other Red Wings news and takes
While Red Wings fans are glad to see their team back on track, they're still looking over at teams like the Ottawa Senators for much-needed stability. Ottawa grew closer to even more stability on Thursday when it inked Shane Pinto to a four-year deal, and that's huge for a group that looks poised as perennial contenders.
Is star winger Tage Thompson ultimately going to be on the trade block? With the Buffalo Sabres losing again on Thursday night and Thompson keeping up his strong play, it may be only a matter of time before the Sabres shop him. That said, the Red Wings may want to start inquiring for one of the most dynamic scorers in the game. Speaking of Thompson, the Red Wings will meet him in the Sabres next on Nov. 15.
Making a tweak to the Yzerplan by bringing in someone like Tage Thompson may be a huge win for the loyal Detroit fans who keep showing up even as the team remains inconsistent. Despite all the recent hardship, it hasn't kept fans from attending games in droves and supporting their team, so the least they can do is reward those fans for their efforts.