Seeing DeBrincat Using His Super Power Again Gives Red Wings Confidence

DETROIT — It’s not as if anyone in the Detroit Red Wings dressing room believed Alex DeBrincat had lost his super power.

“Yeah, he could have eight goals right now,” Red Wings forward J.T. Compher said. “The last two games it’s been post, crossbar, that stick save the other night. I don’t think anyone in this room ever wavered the belief of Cat and I don’t think he ever wavered himself. He’s an unbelievable high end goal scorer in this league.”

But seeing DeBrincat with no goals in the first eight games of the season is not easy for a team that struggles too often to score goals. DeBrincat led the team in goals last season with 39, and he has topped 40 goals twice in his career. Scoring is his athletic super power. That’s why it was an added bonus that DeBrincat scored the tying goal when the Red Wings erased a 4-0 deficit to defeat the St. Louis Blues 6-4.

“We knew it was coming, and to come at that spot,” Compher said. “He just keeps shooting. That’s what he’s good at. When you’re not scoring and you’re not getting chances, it’s one thing. But I think he’s 70 shot attempts this year, so we’re happy for him. ”

The Red Wings were still trailing 4-3 when DeBrincat cut across the middle of the ice and ripped a shot past Blue goalie Jordan Binnington.

DeBrincat Had Chances

“He finally got rewarded,” Detroit coach Todd McLellan said. “Big goal.”

DeBrincat led Detroit with six shots on goal. He clanged two shots off the crossbar earlier in the game.

“He’s a scorer, and scorers shoot the puck, McLellan said. “He’s not going to defer and dish it off. He scored many goals like that already, cutting across and shooting against the grain. He knew what he was doing as soon as he began to cut and good for him.”

DeBrincat had seven assists coming into a game, but DeBrincat isn’t used to going eight games without a goal. Scorers need to feed their habit.

“It’s probably weight off his shoulders, certainly the teams to see him finally get that,” McLellan said, “because we absolutely need his offense moving forward.”