The Breakdown: Red Wings Comeback Bid Runs Out of Time

Time would tell if the Detroit Red Wings would bounce back after a brutal 8-2 loss to the New York Rangers Thursday night. The tone was set just nine seconds into the game when Los Angeles scored.

The odds didn’t favor Detroit heading into the second intermission, staring into a 4-1 chasm.

They looked a stride short through two periods until things turned in the final twenty minutes.

Dylan Larkin buried a power play goal early in the period and then Filip Hronek ripped a shot from the point that found its way through with just 2:01 left.

But the comeback would fall just short.

Red Wings Fight Back in the Third

In the first matchup with the Kings, the Red Wings fought back after every deficit, including the diving Dylan Larkin save that led to the tying goal later on.

They ended up fighting back again–but couldn’t push it to overtime as they did in October.

Following Larkin’s power play goal, Detroit had its best push of the night. Lucas Raymond fired a puck that was just inches from sliding in, but a last second clear denied the goal. Dominik Kubalik narrowly missed a second goal late in the game.

Hronek made it very interesting with 2:01 left when blasted a shot from the point that found its way through traffic.

The puck hopped around all night, often demystifying Red Wings players as it hit posts, hopped over sticks, or just wouldn’t settle down.

Just as it seemed that it was bouncing the Red Wings’ way, time ran out.

Dylan Larkin gets the Wings back in it early in the third. #LGRW | @ThinkFordFirst pic.twitter.com/Yz9vUJ4aX2

— Bally Sports Detroit (@BallySportsDET) November 13, 2022

Facts and Observations

1. Kubalik’s first period power play goal snapped the Red Wings 0-for-9 streak on the power play. Larkin buried his power play goal in the third, which pulled him even with Kubalik in goals and points on the team.
2. Even with putting three on the board tonight, the Red Wings have been outscored 12-5 in their last couple games.
3. The Kings were the toughest of the four teams Detroit will face on the road trip. But the next few contests could be considered trap games.
4. Jonatan Berggen and the fourth line had the best shift in the early stages of the first period, and it was Berggren who drew the penalty that would lead to Kubalik’s goal on the power play.
5. This was Detroit’s sixth consecutive loss to the Kings. The last time they won against Los Angeles was on December 10, 2018, a 3-1 win at Little Caesars Arena. Dating back to the 2017-18 season, Detroit has beaten the Kings just once in their last ten tries.