After a lopsided defeat at the hands of the Montreal Canadiens, skeptics dismissed any possibility of the Detroit Red Wings advancing past the Toronto Maple Leafs. Yet, against all odds, they did.
Lucas Raymond scored twice—including the 100th goal of his career—as the Red Wings rallied past the Maple Leafs for a 6–3 victory on Saturday night.
Raymond’s milestone tally broke a 3–3 deadlock at 6:45 of the third period. Stationed at the left circle on the power play, he uncorked a blistering slap shot off a precise feed from Patrick Kane, beating Toronto goaltender Anthony Stolarz cleanly to give Detroit the lead for good.
Kane finished with a goal and two assists, while Marco Kasper, Simon Edvinsson, and Andrew Copp also found the back of the net. Rookie Emmitt Finnie recorded his first NHL point with an assist on Raymond’s opening goal, and Alex DeBrincat added three assists in a standout performance.
Goaltender Cam Talbot made 20 saves and even registered an assist on Edvinsson’s empty-netter, putting an exclamation point on a decisive and balanced win for Detroit.
A valuable lesson learned
Some fans were already treating the season opener like the end of the world. But context matters. The Maple Leafs are, by most objective measures, a stronger team than the Montreal Canadiens. Just last season, Toronto came within a single win of reaching the Eastern Conference Final, while Montreal bowed out in the opening round and Detroit failed to qualify for the postseason altogether.
By that logic—if you want to call it logic—the Red Wings were expected to get their tails whipped once again. On paper, they were overmatched: Toronto’s top-end talent, playoff pedigree, and scoring depth presented a far steeper challenge than Montreal.
But hockey isn’t played on paper. What unfolded at Little Caesars Arena was the exact opposite of the pessimistic narrative. Rather than folding under pressure, Detroit met the moment with poise, structure, and resilience. The loss to Montreal became less of a harbinger of doom and more of a wake-up call—a reminder of the level required to compete against the NHL’s elite.
Red Wings' team effort shines through
The primary criticism of this Red Wings roster entering the season centered on its youth. With an influx of young talent making the jump to the NHL, many wondered whether the team possessed the experience and composure to consistently compete. Game 1 seemed to reinforce those doubts; Game 2 flipped the script entirely.
Saturday night’s victory was, above all, a complete team effort that showcased Detroit’s evolving depth. Emmitt Finnie notched his first career point, while Michael Brandsegg-Nygård and Axel Sandin-Pellikka combined for five shots on goal, demonstrating their willingness to drive play and test a formidable Maple Leafs defense.
Meanwhile, the veterans led the way. Aside from Raymond’s two-goal performance, Patrick Kane turned in a vintage display with three points, including his 493rd career goal on a one-timer from DeBrincat, who also tallied three points. Marco Kasper and Simon Edvinsson both found the back of the net, reflecting a balanced attack where contributions came from across all four lines and defensive pairings.
It wasn’t just the goals that stood out; it was the collective effort. Forwards tracked back hard, defensemen managed gaps effectively, and Talbot’s calm presence in net steadied the group when Toronto applied pressure. For a team as young as Detroit, this was the kind of performance that can build belief.
Perspective moving forward
As I said after the opener: calm down. An NHL season spans 82 games, and no single result dictates a team’s destiny. But if you dismissed Detroit’s potential as a fleeting spark before an inevitable regression, it might be time to rethink that stance.
The Red Wings didn’t merely defeat the Maple Leafs—they outplayed them when it mattered most. This was the kind of performance that can reshape narratives, both within the locker room and beyond. For a team intent on taking the next step, Saturday night represented a statement of intent.
Goaltender John Gibson received the night off after a difficult debut, but he’ll almost certainly have an opportunity to rebound in the upcoming contest.
What’s next?
Detroit faces Toronto once again in a Sunday afternoon matchup. Puck drop is scheduled for 2 p.m. local time.