Detroit Red Wings

The Breakdown: Lucas Raymond Comes Alive for Red Wings in 2-1 Win

Published

1 year ago

October 29, 2022

Nate Brown

Detroit Red Wings forward Lucas Raymond just needed to see the Minnesota Wild to reclaim his scoring touch. It helped that his linemates in Dylan Larkin and Adam Erne were there to provide some support, too.

During a Halloween themed atmosphere with fans adorned in costumes, it was Raymond who handed out the treats in the way of a pair of goals. The Red Wings triumphed 2-1 over Minnesota and Raymond admitted he was never worried about any mind “tricks” when it came to getting his first goal of the season.

“No, not really,” Raymond said when asked if he was feeling any pressure. “I think my focus was playing the right way. I know that good things will happen. We had a good game tonight so just build off that.”

Head coach Derek Lalonde was pleased with the group’s effort, especially in how they earned the victory against a very skilled Minnesota team. It harkens to the process that Lalonde has been instilling since taking over as Detroit’s bench boss.

“When you play the game right–you manage your game correctly, which we did, that’s the process,” Lalonde said. “If you do it enough, you hope to get outcomes. And tonight, we got an outcome.”

Hate to say I told you so, but I told you so. Lucas Raymond ties the game at 1!!! #LGRW https://t.co/UfHMJkxIil

— Daniella Bruce (@daniellabruce_) October 29, 2022

The process saw Detroit bounce back from an early goal against, and then ride the line of Adam Erne-Larkin-Raymond to get the tying goal. Raymond and the Red Wings put their second goal in with just over four seconds left in the second period, courtesy of the power play. The goal would stand as the winner, another step in the right direction after the first power play attempt lacked any cohesion or quality chances.

The effort, be it on special teams or five on five, showed the process, with some push behind it, leads to good things for Detroit.

“It’s an emotional game,” Larkin said. “We brought the emotion and when we have that, we’ve played really well. We’re going into Buffalo on Monday–we gotta show up with emotion.”

Red Wings Facts and Observations

The 2-1 win snapped a five-game losing streak to Minnesota. The Red Wings last beat Minnesota during the inaugural regular season game at Little Caesars Arena back on October 5, 2017.
Ville Husso started in consecutive nights for Detroit. It’s the first time this season Lalonde didn’t rotate his tandem of Husso and Alex Nedeljkovic. Husso had 30 saves, 10 of which came during a very busy third period where Detroit was outshot 10-1.
Larkin was all over the ice disrupting plays in the defensive end and turning them into chances the other way. In the course of the first eight games of the season, Larkin has stood out as Detroit’s best player so far. He has a team leading ten points and assisted on both of Raymond’s goals.
Elmer Soderblom may have had fourth line minutes but his line with Pius Suter and Givani Smith had some strong shifts that resulted in longer shifts and some scoring chances, including one where Soderblom circled the net and outmuscled two Wild players to get a shot on goal. Lalonde felt Smith was “excellent” in his first game with the Red Wings this season.
Matt Luff played his first career game at Little Caesars Arena, but it didn’t come without a little pain. Luff took a puck to the mouth, courtesy of a Matt Dumba shot. The puck deflected off Luff’s stick and found its way up.