Resilient Red Wings Keep on Keeping on

There was a moment on the Detroit Red Wings’ bench during Sunday’s 3-2 overtime win over the Toronto Maple Leafs that gave coach Todd McLellan cause for optimism.

Interestingly, it came at a moment that in the past would’ve proven quite distressing to his team.

Nicholas Robertson had just scored 4:53 into the third period to give the Maple Leafs a 2-1 lead. Along his bench, McLellan witnessed not worry, but encouragement.

“Our bench was disappointed that we gave up that goal,” McLellan said. “It was a turnover that never needed to happen. But this is where I think we’re growing a little bit.

“In the past, it would just be quiet.”

This time, it was exuberant, a bench buzzing with positive affirmation.

“There’s guys on the bench saying, ‘Hey, we’re okay. We got some time. Let’s use it,'” McLellan said. “You can start to hear that. And it trickles through. It goes from one player to the next player and they lift each other up.”

How you like them Appys! #LGRW pic.twitter.com/7jUoDtu6e5

— Detroit Red Wings (@DetroitRedWings) December 29, 2025

Just 23 seconds later, Mason Appleton scored to make it 2-2.

“Big goal,” McLellan said.

Big win.

Red Wings Are A Resilient Bunch

Sunday’s victory was also important in that it followed a disappointing 5-2 loss at Carolina on Saturday. The Red Wings needed to bounce back from that, and they did.

All teams, even those considered to be elite, are going to turn in the occasional clunker over the course of an 82-game season. The key to long-term success is not to let the downturns linger and fester into a slump.

Impressively, over their past 15 games, the Red Wings have never lost back-to-back games. You have to go back to a three-game slide in late November to locate such a malady infecting their schedule.

Another sign of this team’s growth, perhaps?

MO SEIDER FROM DISTANCE 🗣️

Mo's late second period goal to tie the game at 1 is last night's @xfinity game-changing moment! pic.twitter.com/9wtGqCIsFu

— Detroit Red Wings (@DetroitRedWings) December 29, 2025

“We didn’t like our game (in Carolina),” Appleton said. “We kind of laid an egg.”

They didn’t let that egg grow into an omelette, though. And that’s why this team keeps on cooking.

“I feel like this entire year, we bounced back after tough performances,” Appleton said. “So, yeah, it just goes to show the belief we have in this room.”

If they can keep it up and avoid those season-killing skids, there’s no reason to believe that the playoffs won’t be in Detroit’s future.