DETROIT — Lucas Raymond and Marco Kasper each found the net, while Cam Talbot made 21 saves to help the Detroit Red Wings secure a 2-1 victory over the Boston Bruins on Saturday night.
Holding on to slim playoff chances, Detroit managed to win for only the fourth time in their last 15 contests. The Red Wings are currently level on points with the New York Islanders, situated three points behind the New York Rangers, who occupy the second wild card spot in the Eastern Conference. Meanwhile, Montreal and Columbus trail the Rangers by just two points.
The Bruins, undergoing a rebuilding phase after trading away captain Brad Marchand at the trade deadline, have now dropped eight consecutive games. This marks their longest losing streak since a 10-game skid back in 2010.
Morgan Geekie brought Boston closer with a late first-period power-play goal, narrowing the deficit. Jeremy Swayman, the Bruins’ netminder, recorded 20 saves throughout the matchup. In a final attempt to close the gap, Boston pulled Swayman with 1:56 remaining to gain an extra skater, but they were unable to find another goal.
In what was a feisty start, players from both sides engaged in two separate fights within the first 2:01, even before any shots on goal were recorded.
Kasper opened the scoring for Detroit with a wrist shot from the top of the left circle 5:37 into the first period, marking the rookie’s 15th goal. Raymond extended the lead with his 26th goal just a minute into the second period, placing the Red Wings two goals ahead. Moments later, Geekie redirected a pass in front of the net for his 27th goal of the season, reducing the margin.
The Bruins now face the prospect of missing the playoffs for the first time since 2016, which also was the last year Detroit clinched a postseason berth.
### Takeaways
**Bruins:** David Pastrnak showcased his skill with a precise pass setting up Geekie’s goal. Pastrnak, with 51 assists and 35 goals, remains among the NHL’s top playmakers.
**Red Wings:** Detroit hit a rough patch in March, posting a 4-10 record, at a time critical for playoff positioning.
### Key Moment
Talbot’s crucial glove save with just 9.3 seconds on the clock denied a shot from Casey Mittelstadt, securing Detroit’s win.
### Key Stat
Kasper, with 30 points, is outperforming all but three Austrian players during their rookie NHL seasons.
### Up Next
The Bruins will host Alex Ovechkin and the Washington Capitals on Tuesday, while the Red Wings travel to face the St. Louis Blues.