Detroit Red Wings
Tarasenko Rare Red Wings Bright Spot in Loss to Sharks
Russian forward now has six goals on the season

Often this season, when using wow as an adjective to describe Detroit Red Wings forward Vladimir Tarasenko, the usage hasn’t been intended in a complimentary fashion.
Things were different on Tuesday. On a night when there wasn’t much good to be put to discussion about the Red Wings during a 6-3 loss to the San Jose Sharks, Tarasenko was proving to be the exception to the rule.
In fact, as a rule, he was exceptional.
Vlad gets the boys on the board. #LGRW pic.twitter.com/6V4BtR44vf
— Detroit Red Wings (@DetroitRedWings) January 15, 2025
Not only was he scoring twice for Detroit, Tarasenko was scoring what are termed goal scorers’ goals. He went to an open spot, corralled the puck and in an instant, was snapping it into the net before San Jose goalie Alexandar Georgiev was given time to react.
“There’s a lot of negativity around the game,” Detroit coach Todd McLellan was admitting. “The positive is that Vladdy got on the score sheet.
“And when you look at the type of shots he took, how quick he got that shot off, that pace of release was instant. And I think there’s more of that.
“That’s how I remember Vladdy scoring. It’s not a long load and a slow release. He gets it off quick. And I’m excited about the fact that he found the score sheet with that type of shot.”
Red Wings Tarasenko A Disappointment
Even so, it’s still had to raise any exictement level where Tarasenko is concerned. Even taking into account his two-goal outburst, the two-time 40-goal scorer still is only showing six goals on his ledger this season.
Those were his first goals since Dec. 1. That’s a 18-game goalless span.
Perhaps, though, there is a glimmer of hope for Tarasenko. His two-goal game follows a two-assist display in Detroit’s previous game against the Seattle Kraken.
That’s four points in two games. It took him 18 games to accumulate his previous four points.
Vlad’s 2nd of the night! #LGRW pic.twitter.com/Y3NhqciEaf
— Detroit Red Wings (@DetroitRedWings) January 15, 2025
Much like Patrick Kane, Tarasenko is another tradionally productive offensive player who’s feeling different about his game under McLellan than he did under Derek Lalonde.
“Yeah, maybe feel a little more confident,” Tarasenko acknowledged.
Tarasenko was brought to Detroit to score goals. Granted, six is a long way from 40 . . . or 30, or even 20 for that matter.
But it’s a start. A rare chance for him to feel good about himself this season.
Perhaps it will prove to be an elixir that gets Tarasenko going.