Red Wings Notebook: DeBrincat Garners Gordie Howe Hat-Trick

Detroit Red Wings coach Derek Lalonde knew a lot about Alex DeBrincat when the club acquired him from Ottawa in the summer. He’s also learned a few things about the diminutive sniper since DeBrincat arrived in Detroit.

“Compete,” Lalonde said. “Character. Very competitive.

“You appreciate the player, his ability to finish, but he’s got a passion. He wants to keep going in the right direction. Really impressed with him as a human.”

All of those elements were put on display by DeBrincat in Friday’s 5-4 overtime win over the Nashville Predators. Trailing the Predators 3-2 in the the third period, he would score his team-leading 17th goal of the season to tie the game. DeBrincat then set-up Jake Walman to give Detroit a 4-3 lead.

josi’s got the height, weight and reach advantage but damn debrincat’s got some serious bite pic.twitter.com/Td83JXkayQ

— Liam McHugh (@liam_mchugh) December 30, 2023

Prior to that, late in the second period. DeBrincat dropped the mitts, trading punches with Nashville captain Roman Josi. All together, it adds up to what’s known in hockey circles as a Gordie Howe hat-trick – a goal, an assist and a fight in the same game.

“That’s him,” Lalonde said. “Through this recent stretch of losing, he’s been really good. His underlying numbers were excellent.

“He’s been excellent. He changed that game for sure.”

It was actually DeBrincat’s second Gordie Howe hat-trick. He bagged one previously while with the Chicago Blackhawks.

Walman Bags A Pair

Red Wings defenseman Walman would score twice, the first multi-goal game of his NHL career.

“It was fun,” Walman said. “Definitely needed that win. I think it was good. Battled a lot of adversity in the game and it was good to come out with the win.”

Jake Walman scores his 2nd of the night while Alex DeBrincat picks up the Gordie Howe Hat trick! #LGRW pic.twitter.com/DmnRq5dZKm

— Detroit Red Wings (@DetroitRedWings) December 30, 2023

Battling adversity is something that Walman, and many of his Red Wings teammates, have been doing with regularity during the club’s current 3-8-1 slide.

“He’s probably the epitome of our team right now,” Lalonde said of Walman. “He’s puts two in the back of the net. Great goals. But he’s one of those players who’ll have 8-9 minutes of really good play and then he just does something out of character.

“And unfortunately the way it’s going lately, it’s ending up in the back of our net.”

Lyon Eyes Red Wings Win

The one netminder that Detroit has been able to consistently count on this season has been Alex Lyon. Returning from injury Friday, Lyon made 33 saves for his fifth win of the season.

“He was confident,” Lalonde said. “He has a poise about him. Compete was really good. You can’t fault him on any of the goals.

“Just a real quality win for him.”

Ice Chips

Lucas Raymond’s OT winner was the fourth of his NHL career and second this season . . . Former Red Wings forward Gustav Nyquist colleted two goals and an assist for the Predators . . . Detroit’s Patrick Kane is riding a six-game point streak, with multiple points in four of the games.