Red Wings Copp Hurt; DeBrincat Puts Hurt on Faber

The day started off with a milestone moment for Detroit Red Wings center Andrew Copp. It finished with pain and uncertainty.

Late in the second period of Saturday’s 4-3 overtime loss to the Minnesota Wild, Copp was suffering an apparent left shoulder injury in a melee behind the Wild net. Grabbing Minnesota forward Matt Boldy with his left gloved hand, Copp slammed Boldy to the ice. Immediately, he grabbed at his upper left arm and quickly skated away from the tussle and toward the Detroit bench.

Copp went to the dressing room and didn’t return the rest of the game.

ALEX DeBRINCAT MASSIVE HIT ON BROCK FABER #LGRW pic.twitter.com/herWzFM9A4

— Ryan Hana (@RyanHanaWWP) February 22, 2025

“I think they’re looking at him now,” Detroit coach Todd McLellan said. “I would say he’s doubtful for tomorrow (at home against the Anaheim Ducks).”

On Detroit’s first goal, Copp drew an assist. That was his 300th NHL point.

Red Wings DeBrincat Delivers Punishment

The spark that ignited the melee in which Copp was injured was lit when Red Wings forward Alex DeBrincat laid out Minnesota defenseman Brock Faber with a thunderous bodycheck as the latter was coming out from behind the Wild net with the puck.

Your first thought regarding the 5-foot-8, 180-pound DeBrincat might not be that he’s a physical presence. However, if that is indeed your mindset, McLellan believes it’s in need of adjustment.

“Well, see, I know him a little bit different because he’s a feisty SOB, like he’s been since he’s been in the league,” McLellan said of DeBrincat. “Everywhere he’s been, he surprises you when he gets the gloves off, he surprises you with big hits. He’s a hard, physical player that scores goals.

“Just because he’s not the tallest guy in the league, he probably isn’t looked at that way. But pound for pound, I’d put him up against a lot of people.”

It was an eventful game for DeBrincat. He opened the scoring and assisted on Detroit’s second goal. Then on the third Red Wings tally, his net-front work was distracting Wild goalie Marc-Andre Fleury.

Fleury’s Farewell Appearance

Unless there’s a Red Wings-Wild Stanley Cup final, Fleury was making his final Little Caesars Arena appearance on Saturday afternoon.

Fleury, who’s retiring at season’s end, is among three current players who were active NHLers in 2005-06, the last season of Red Wings GM Steve Yzerman’s playing career. The others are Pittsburgh captain Sidney Crosby and Washington captain Alex Ovechkin.

Another game, another milestone for Marc-Andre Fleury! 🌸

Flower passes Roberto Luongo to take sole possession of second place on the all-time games played list for goalies. pic.twitter.com/oZrQvX2F0o

— NHL (@NHL) February 22, 2025

Fleury and Cam Talbot, Detroit’s starting goalie on Saturday, were netminder partners with the Wild from 2020-22. During the 4 Nations Face-Off break, they vacationed together in Turks and Caicos.

Fleury was also the Penguins goalie who beat the Red Wings in Game 7 of the 2009 Stanley Cup final at Joe Louis Arena.