DETROIT — Lucas Raymond finally broke through in the shootout, and the Detroit Red Wings walked out of Little Caesars Arena with two points after erasing a two-goal third-period deficit against the San Jose Sharks on Saturday.
Alex DeBrincat forced overtime by jamming home his own rebound with 1:33 left in regulation, then Raymond delivered the lone shootout goal in a 4-3 Detroit win. The Red Wings had failed on their first eight shootout attempts this season before Raymond beat Alex Nedeljkovic.
Quick facts
- Detroit improved to 3-3-2 and extended its points run to four games (2-0-2).
- San Jose fell to 4-3-1 after entering the night unbeaten in games decided in overtime or a shootout.
- John Gibson stopped 31 shots for Detroit; former Red Wings goalie Alex Nedeljkovic made 24 saves for San Jose.
- Macklin Celebrini recorded one goal and two assists, while Ivar Stenberg posted a goal and an assist.
- Moritz Seider logged a game-high 29:46 and helped Detroit survive a key overtime penalty kill.
Raymond said the winner was important with Detroit about to head out after playing seven of its first eight games on home ice. He is still looking for his first regulation goal of the season, but said he will continue firing pucks until one goes in.
Emmitt Finnie supplied a goal and an assist for Detroit, which closed its home-heavy opening stretch with consecutive victories. Coach Todd McLellan praised Finnie’s fast adjustment from wing to center, pointing to the work the rookie has put into the transition.
Detroit struck first on the power play at 12:47 of the opening period. Justin Faulk’s point shot found its way through traffic for a 1-0 lead.
San Jose answered with a similar look late in the first. Dmitry Orlov scored from the blue line at 17:59 with the Sharks on the man advantage, sending the teams into the intermission even at 1-1.
Gibson had already made one of his sharpest stops of the night before that, sprawling to kick away a Celebrini chance midway through the first period.
Sharks build a lead, Red Wings answer late
Celebrini put San Jose ahead 4:55 into the second. Michael Kesselring intercepted William Wallinder’s clearing try, moved the puck to Will Smith, and Smith fed Celebrini in the high slot for his third goal.
The Sharks made it 3-1 early in the third on their second power-play goal. Celebrini and Alexander Wennberg worked the puck through a quick passing sequence before Stenberg snapped his second NHL goal under the crossbar at 2:48.
Detroit responded 2:12 later. Michael Brandsegg-Nygard sent a pass across the rush to Finnie at the far post, and Finnie converted after Orlov could not stop the puck.
Orlov took responsibility for the sequence, saying the bouncing puck left him uncertain whether to play it and that he needed to be tighter to Finnie rather than allow him access to the pass.
With Gibson on the Detroit bench for an extra skater, DeBrincat created the equalizer at 18:27. His first chance was stopped, but he collected the rebound and buried it to make it 3-3.
It marked the second straight game in which San Jose surrendered a tying goal while defending six-on-five. Sharks coach Ryan Warsofsky said the group must clean up its details and recognize the situation better late in games.
Andrew Copp took a holding penalty against Celebrini 2:32 into overtime, the third penalty Celebrini drew in the game. Detroit’s penalty kill held, with Seider recording two blocks and a takeaway during his heavy workload.
McLellan called Seider “a machine,” crediting the defenseman for repeatedly sacrificing his body, making plays and returning for more shifts.
San Jose had opportunities to end it in overtime, but Celebrini said the Sharks let chances get away through rolling pucks and missed shots. He said the finishing problem showed up throughout the night.
Gibson said Detroit has faced difficult stretches and trailed in games, but has remained within reach and found ways to close out wins. The victory sends the Red Wings on the road with a 2-0-2 run over their past four outings.
Celebrini reaches another early milestone
Celebrini’s three-point night was his 23rd such game before turning 21, tying him with Rob Brown for eighth on the NHL’s all-time list in that age group. Wayne Gretzky leads the list with 73, followed by Mario Lemieux with 31, Sidney Crosby with 30, Jimmy Carson with 29, Dale Hawerchuk with 26 and Pierre Larouche with 24.
It was also Celebrini’s 51st NHL game with at least two points. Among active players, only Crosby (91), Steven Stamkos (58) and Connor McDavid (55) had more multipoint games by age 20.
The game also brought together cousins Wennberg and Detroit defenseman Anton Johansson for their first NHL matchup. Wennberg said it brought back memories of the basement hockey they played together while growing up in Sweden.
