VANCOUVER, British Columbia — In a thrilling overtime showdown, Alex DeBrincat netted his second goal of the evening just 4:18 into the extra period, leading the Detroit Red Wings to a narrow 3-2 victory over the Vancouver Canucks on Sunday night.
DeBrincat, along with Ben Chiarot, scored during regulation play, contributing to the Red Wings’ impressive six-game winning streak. Goalie Alex Lyon showcased his skills by stopping 25 shots throughout the game.
The Canucks struck first, with Pius Suter finding the back of the net for his 14th goal this season. Filip Chytil then pushed the game into overtime when he scored his first goal while playing for Vancouver midway through the third period.
Kevin Lankinen was in goal for the Canucks, making 15 saves, but the team struggled without their captain, Quinn Hughes, who was sidelined for this match.
Takeaways from the match showed that Vancouver has experienced significant changes in its lineup. With three new players joining the team and four former members now on different rosters, the forward lines and defensive pairings had to be restructured. The most effective combination on Sunday was the trio consisting of center Elias Pettersson and wingers Jake DeBrusk and Brock Boeser. Despite several opportunities, they were unable to score against Lyon.
On the other hand, the Red Wings welcomed back Patrick Kane, who had missed the last five games due to an upper-body injury. The experienced winger has been productive this season, recording 11 goals and 19 assists so far.
A pivotal moment in the game occurred when Chiarot scored to give Detroit a 2-1 lead at 5:54 in the second period. He unleashed a powerful shot from just inside the blue line that navigated through a crowded defense and found its way past Lankinen into the net. This marked Chiarot’s third goal of the season.
Statistically, the Red Wings have excelled since the appointment of Todd McLellan as head coach, boasting a record of 14-3-1 since December 26.
Looking ahead, the Red Wings will take on the Seattle Kraken on Tuesday to complete a four-game road trip, while the Canucks will host the Colorado Avalanche as they finish a brief two-game homestand.
