COLUMBUS, Ohio — In an exciting finish, Jonatan Berggren netted the game-winner with just 36 seconds remaining in the third period, leading the Detroit Red Wings to a narrow 5-4 victory over the Columbus Blue Jackets on Thursday night. This win marked the Red Wings’ third straight victory.
Key contributors for Detroit included Alex DeBrincat, who registered a goal and two assists, while Dylan Larkin and Patrick Kane each added a goal and an assist. Erik Gustafsson also found the back of the net, and Cam Talbot made 21 saves in goal.
For the Blue Jackets, James van Riemsdyk stood out with two goals and an assist. Zach Werenski pitched in with a goal and two assists, while Sean Monahan also scored. Columbus had enjoyed a strong run prior to this game, going 4-1-1 over their last six outings, with Elvis Merzlikins saving 21 shots.
Van Riemsdyk’s second goal of the night tied the score at 4-4 at 17:19 of the third period, responding to Larkin’s power-play goal scored at 4:54 that had given Detroit a temporary 4-3 lead.
Takeaways from the matchup highlighted the impact of new head coach Todd McLellan, who has revitalized the Red Wings since taking the reins on December 26. Under his leadership, the team has secured three victories in their last four games. On the other hand, the Blue Jackets’ penalty-killing unit had been impressive, successfully stopping 90.5% of power plays against them since December 19, yet they struggled against Detroit’s efforts, allowing two goals on three power-play opportunities.
A notable moment in the game occurred when Gustafsson scored his first goal in 42 appearances, breaking a lengthy drought that dated back to March 11. His long-range shot from approximately 54 feet out helped to put the Red Wings ahead 2-1 in the first period.
In terms of individual achievements, Red Wings defenseman Moritz Seider extended his impressive streak to 284 consecutive games played since his NHL debut on October 14, 2021, against Tampa Bay. This accomplishment ties him with Nicklas Lidström and puts him just shy of the franchise record held by John Ogrodnick at 345 games.
Looking ahead, both teams will be back on the ice Saturday, with the Red Wings facing off against the Winnipeg Jets and the Blue Jackets welcoming the St. Louis Blues to their home arena.
