DETROIT — Patrick Kane netted his second goal during an exhilarating breakaway with just one minute remaining in overtime, leading the Detroit Red Wings to a thrilling 5-4 victory over the Anaheim Ducks on Sunday evening. This win halted the Ducks’ impressive four-game winning streak.
In a fast-paced start, Marco Kasper, Alex DeBrincat, and Kane all found the back of the net within the initial 5:06 of the match, marking the quickest three goals scored by any team this season. Michael Rasmussen contributed a power-play goal for Detroit. Despite allowing the Ducks to come back late in the game, the Red Wings improved their recent record to a commendable 8-1-1 in their last ten outings. Goaltender Alex Lyon was solid between the pipes, registering 24 saves.
The Red Wings were eager to rebound after a tough 4-3 overtime defeat to Minnesota the previous night, where they relinquished a two-goal advantage in the third period.
Anaheim made a late charge, scoring two goals within the last 2:16 after pulling goalie Lukas Dostal for an additional attacker. Cutter Gauthier shone bright for the Ducks, scoring twice, including a crucial tying goal with just 53 seconds left in regulation. Ryan Strome and Owen Zellweger also tallied goals for Anaheim, while Dostal faced a barrage of shots, making 31 saves throughout the game.
Key insights from the game included the Ducks’ previous success in defense, having only allowed six goals during their four-game winning streak, before breaking that pattern by conceding more than four goals for the first time in 14 matchups.
For the Red Wings, they showcased formidable special teams, converting three of their four power play opportunities. With this, their power play ranks among the best in the league, with a total of 50 goals scored; only the Winnipeg Jets have been slightly more prolific on the man advantage with 51 goals.
A pivotal moment occurred early in the first period when Anaheim’s Isac Lundestrom and Brian Dumoulin were penalized for tripping at 4:21. DeBrincat capitalized on the 5-on-3 advantage, slapping a rebound off a Dylan Larkin shot into the net. Kane later added a goal during the 5-on-4 play, extending Detroit’s lead to 3-0.
Notably, DeBrincat has consistently performed well against the Ducks, amassing 15 goals and 28 points in 18 matchups throughout his career.
Looking ahead, both teams are set to return to the ice on Tuesday. The Ducks will head to Buffalo while the Red Wings will face off against the Minnesota Wild.
