Detroit Red Wings

Zadina scores first of season, Red Wings beat Flames

Detroit’s first win over Calgary in nearly six years

Published

1 year ago

February 9, 2023

Bob Duff

Red Wings forward Filip Zadina scored his first goal of the season on Thursday.

Detroit Red Wings forward Filip Zadina waited a long time for his first goal of the season. Sure, not as long as the Red Wings were waiting for any goal against the Calgary Flames. And definitely, his drought wasn’t anywhere near as lengthy as the one Detroit endured since the club’s last victory over the Flames.

Zadina’s third-period goal snapped a 1-1 tie and proved to be the game winner as the Red Wings edged the Flames 2-1 on Thursday at Little Caesars Arena.

Seeing his first game action since suffering a broken leg while blocking a shot on November 5, Zadina and Oskar Sundqvist worked the give and go to perfection for his goal. He was left with a gaping net in which to slam the puck behind Calgary goalie Dan Vladar for his first NHL goal since April 14 of last season against the Carolina Hurricanes.

Love to see it! #LGRW pic.twitter.com/x8ac6aIdrQ

— Detroit Red Wings (@DetroitRedWings) February 10, 2023

Defenseman Robert Hagg, also seeing his first game action since December 8 due to an undislcosed injury, drew the second assist on Zadina’s goal.

Red Wings Captain Larkin Breaks Ice

Calgary was leading 1-0 on a goal by Blake Coleman when Detroit was afforded a power play near the end of the second period. Red Wings captain Dylan Larkin got loose, whipping a high shot into the over Vladar’s shoulder from close range.

Larkin’s goal was ending a 161:46 drought for Detroit without a tally against the Flames. The Red Wings were 3-0 losers in both games against Calgary last season. The two teams didn’t meet during the COVID-19-shortened 2020-21 NHL season.

In a 4-2 home-ice loss on February 23, 2020, Larkin was scoring both goals for Detroit, including a tally at the 18-minute mark of the third period. Zadina was the first Red Wings player other than Larkin to score on the Flames since Darren Helm’s tally on October 17, 2019.

The victory was also bringing to a halt Calgary’s six-game win streak over the Wings. Detroit’s previous win against the Flames was an 8-2 verdict on November 15, 2017.