Red Wings notebook: Second line clicking for offense

For a few recent Detroit Red Wings games, the line of Andrew Copp between David Perron and Michael Rasmussen was showing on the depth chart as the club’s #1 line. Thursday, they performed as if that was an appropriate designation.

They were figuring in three goals and accounting for seven points as Detroit was toppling the New York Rangers 4-1 at Little Caesars Arena to improve to 7-1 over the last eight games. Copp was scoring once and assisting on two other goals. Rasmussen tallied once and added a helper. Perron was dishing out a couple of assists.

Big Ras with his 10th. #LGRW pic.twitter.com/317BFE8jGK

— Detroit Red Wings (@DetroitRedWings) February 24, 2023

In Copp’s opinion, the offensive outburst from the trio was a long time coming.

“It’s kinda been hot and cold,” Copp assessed of the line’s production. “There’s just that extra play. We’ve had some opportunities to make that last pass for a goal, or put the puck in the net in any given situation.

Tonight, I felt even if a play wasn’t executed perfectly, that we’re gonna get another chance next shift. If you can build that feeling, that’s magic.”

Scoring Balance Working For Red Wings

Red Wings coach Derek Lalonde was preferring to look at the scenario as different heroes stepping up every night. In the five previous games, fourth-line center Pius Suter was scoring five goals.

“You go on a run like this and you’re finding ways to win every night, it’s usually contributions from everyone,” Lalonde said. “Suits was that guy the last couple of games.

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“With the Copp line, you could tell early on they had some jump. Those three really like playing with each other. I think they’re predictable for each other. They have an identity, they want to spend some time with it in the zone.”

Rasmussen’s goal was his 10th of the season. That’s giving the Red Wings seven players with double digits in goals. Captain Dylan Larkin (22 goals) leads the way. Following him are Dominik Kubalik (16), Lucas Raymond (15), Perron (14), Suter (11), Jonatan Berggren (11) and Rasmussen. Defenseman Filip Hronek was netting his ninth of the season on Thursday.

Ice Chips

Going 2-1, the Red Wings won the season series from the Rangers for the first time since the 2018-19 campaign . . . Detroit is 19-0-2 when leading after two periods . . . Rasmussen has 3-9-12 totals over his last 16 games. He’s collected seven multi-point games this season . . . Larkin recorded his 415th career NHL point (169-246-415 in 560 games), tying Vyacheslav Kozlov for 20th place on the franchise’s all-time scoring list.