The Breakdown: Red Wings Rally Twice For Much-Needed Win

Without a doubt, this was a game that the Detroit Red Wings could’ve easily lost. Facing the San Jose Sharks on Thursday night, the Wings squandered a 1-0 first-period lead and a 4-2 third-period advantage. Riding a four-game skid (0-2-2), they might have easily slumped to another setback.

Instead, the Red Wings dug in, fought back and buried the Sharks 7-4.

“Really important,” Detroit defenseman Moritz Seider told Bally Sports Detroit of the team’s resilience. “We want to finish positive on this road trip. This was a big, big step towards that goal.”

THAT'S MO LIKE IT! pic.twitter.com/xDZNZePdDi

— Detroit Red Wings (@DetroitRedWings) November 18, 2022

Win in the final game of this four-game trip on Saturday against the injury-ravaged Columbus Blue Jackets and the Wings will conclude the road swing 2-1-1.

“Guys competed,” Seider said. “We had some tough bounces, really unlucky goals but we stayed with it, fought all the way back and got the W.”

Red Wings Lalonde Shakes Up Lines

Red Wings coach Derek Lalonde reacted to a sluggish opening period by shuffling his forward lines. That seemed to ignite his club. It was a different Detroit team that took the game to San Jose. The Red Wings came out of the second frame ahead 4-2.

However, faceoffs, a Detroit problem throughout the season, bit the Red Wings again. The Sharks tied it 4-4, getting two tallies directly off faceoff wins in the Red Wings zone.

Instead of folding, the Red Wings simply found another gear. Seider, Pius Suter and Dominik Kubalik scored to earn the Wings the victory.

Last season, Seider’s first NHL goal was an overtime winner against the Buffalo Sabres. The first goal of his sophomore NHL game was also proving to be a game winner.

“Still grinding,” Seider said. “Just hopefully finish positive and then I’ll be happy.”

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David Perron enjoyed a three-point game with a goal and two assists. He’s collected six points in the last three games. Filip Hronek, Jake Walman and Joe Veleno also scored for Detroit.

Facts And Observations

1. For the first time since April 1, 2017, the Wings got goals from three defensemen in Seider, Walman and Hronek
2. Hronek has accounted for four points in his last two games
3. Walman’s goal was his first as a Red Wing. Considering it was a point shot and taking into account where Tomas Holmstrom was situated for the majority of his 243 NHL goals – at the net front – it was likely the longest goal ever scored by a Detroit player wearing No. 96
4. Kubalik is the first Red Wings player to reach the 20-point plateau. He’s one point ahead of captain Dylan Larkin for the team scoring lead
5. Sharks forward Evgeny Svechnikov was a popular Red Wings player and several of his ex-teammates took him out to dinner Wednesday night to reminisce about the old times