Red Wings Power Play Picks up Where it Left Off

A season ago, the power play carried the Detroit Red Wings. Clicking at a 27% success rate, it was the fourth-most productive unit in the NHL.

Here’s a funny thing about power plays, though. From one season to the next, it can be like night and day.

“There’s no two years that are the same,” said Red Wings assistant coach Alex Tanguay, who handles the team’s power play. “It’s not because we’ve had success last year that it guarantees us having success this year.”

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— Detroit Red Wings (@DetroitRedWings) October 9, 2025

However, two games into the 2025-26 season, the unit is showing no sign of a slowdown.

It wouldn’t be fair to say the Detroit power play is lighting up the league. It’s 2-for-8 so far for a 25% success rate. The Wings’ power play has scored in each game.

Momentum Drawn From Power Plays

Throughout the course of a game, a team’s power play sets a tone. Even if it doesn’t score, a strong shift with plenty of zone time and scoring chances can tilt the ice in one direction.

“It’s what the power play has to do at the very least, provide some momentum and some energy and excitement for the team,” Red Wings coach Todd McLellan said. “It’s impossible to score every time.

“If they score, great. If not, as we leave and begin to play 5-on-5 again, we feel pretty good about ourselves. They’ve swung the tide our way for a little bit. So momentum’s huge, and when it doesn’t go well, you give the momentum back. Now you’re scrambling.”

Red Wings Top Unit A Potent Group

The first five who go over the boards when Detroit gets the man advantage remain the same as last season. It consists of forwards Dylan Larkin, Patrick Kane, Alex DeBrincat, and Lucas Raymond, along with defenseman Moritz Seider.

“Those five players, when they’re clicking, they’re moving it quickly,” McLellan said. “They’re dangerous.”

It’s a fivesome that is exhibiting tremendous chemistry. And they want to get better.

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— Detroit Red Wings (@DetroitRedWings) October 12, 2025

“We had a good year last year on the power play, but we want to take steps there as well,” Raymond said. “And when you played a full year together, you learn each other’s tendencies, and at the same time, other teams also do.

“So I think for us it’s about finding new ways to score, being creative out there. And we’re not going to score every power play, but as long as we get momentum for the team and put ourselves in a good spot, I think it’s successful out there.

“Two games, two goals, so look to keep that going as well.”