Red Wings Game Day: ‘Ghost’ Scores Twice, ‘Mo’ Eats Shots to Key Win

Shayne Gostisbehere has nine goals as a defenseman and ranks 13th in scoring on the Red Wings. That’s what strong depth looks like at the NHL level.

“We probably have 15 guys who could be on the power play,”  Gostisbehere said.

Gostisbehere scored a pair of even-strength goals Tuesday to help his Detroit Red Wings earn an important two points with an 8-3 win against the Washington Capitals who are chasing them in the Eastern Conference wild card race. The Capitals are now nine points behind Detroit.

Shayne Gostisbehere improved his goal total to nine in 2023-24. The last @DetroitRedWings defenseman with more in their first season with the club was Brian Rafalski (13 in 2007-08).#NHLStats: https://t.co/HRiCZxGnzw pic.twitter.com/ggS1JJYYC2

— NHL Public Relations (@PR_NHL) February 28, 2024

Playing 20:09 in the game, Gostisbehere had a shot at his first professional hat trick.

“Had one in high school,” Gostisbehere said. “If it happens, it happens. I wasn’t thinking too much. We’re up big and the maturity of our team, play the right way for a full 60 and onto the next game.”

With nine goals now, Gostisbehere has a chance to become the 13th Red Wings player with 10 or more.

“He competes well on the defensive side, too,” Coach Derek Lalonde said. “He finds himself in trouble at some times. He’s had some tough matchups. We’ve played him in our top pair at times, especially when Wally’s been out. He helps our transition, he moves the puck. A really valuable player for us.

Rivalry With Roots

Lalonde’s rivalry with Washington coach Spencer Carbery pre-dates their NHL arrival. Lalonde’s Toledo Walleye team lost a triple overtime Game 7 to Carbery’s South Carolina team in the 2015 Eastern Conference Finals

“That one hurt a lot,” Lalonde said “… To this day – and I’m sitting here with two Stanley Cup rings – it was one of the most memorable series I’ve ever been in. We got down 3-0, came back to 3-3.”

He said he doesn’t hold it against Spencer.

“He’s been a good friend of mine for a long time,” Lalonde said. “It’s just pretty cool. Not many people go through that path and we’re two of them. We both played Division III ice hockey. Both were head coaches at every level on the way up. Now we’re both here in the National Hockey League. I think that’s pretty cool.”

Seider’s Wall

Detroit defenseman Moritz Seider went for x-rays after blocking five shots against Washington

“I think he’s gonna be fine,”  Lalonde said. “Obviously he went out and got an x-ray of it. Haven’t heard yet but so far it sounded positive.

Detroit posted 22 blocked shots in the game. “Those guys eating those shots, you hope it becomes a culture, a habit,” Lalonde said. “Good on Mo. We were talking in the middle of the period about how many pucks he was eating.”

Ice Chips

Detroit scored eight goals in a game for the first time since an 8-2 victory on Nov. 15, 2017 vs. Calgary. “They can cause issues with their speed and skating,” Carbery said. … Lucas Raymond finished with a goal and two assists for his team-leading 15th multi-point game of the season. … Patrick Kane put up two assists to extend his point streak to nine consecutive games (5-9-14 in 9 GP). Kane has racked up 30 points (12-18-30) in 28 games with the Red Wings. He has 10 multi-point games.