Red Wings stage rally but fall short against Senators

Ted Kulfan, The Detroit News on Mar 27, 2025

Published in Hockey

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DETROIT — This was shades of last season down the stretch, when the Red Wings pulled off dramatic rallies and victories.

The Wings certainly made things interesting Thursday but couldn't complete the comeback, falling to Ottawa, 4-3.

It was the Wings' 11th loss in the last 14 games and kept them stalled outside of the playoff picture, which has been a natural position for a while now.

Ottawa jumped on struggling goaltender Alex Lyon, and the Red Wings failed on their first five power plays in the first period, putting the Wings in an unenviable hole.

But they showed admirable fight in the third period.

Vladimir Tarasenko's 10th goal cut the Ottawa lead to 4-3 at 15:30. J.T. Compher found Tarasenko unattended in the slot and Tarasenko snapped a shot past goaltender Linus Ullmark.

But a dramatic push in the end couldn't produce the game-tying goal.

Lucas Raymond's 25th goal, left all alone in front of Ullmark, ignited the comeback slicing the Ottawa's lead to 4-2 at 11:50.

Patrick Kane's power-play goal in the third period, his 19th goal cut Ottawa's lead to 3-1 at 5:25, but Ottawa responded with Michael Amadio's goal at 8:44 driving in alone on goaltender Cam Talbot.

Lyon allowed goals on two of the first three shots he faced, and three in 10, before being replaced by Talbot.

Thomas Chabot, Tim Stutzle and former Wing David Perron scored goals against Lyon, with Perron's eighth goal, on a a partial breakaway at 1 minute, 33 seconds of the second period, sending Lyon to the bench.

Coach Todd McLellan talked after the morning skate about how impressive Ottawa has been, especially after defeating the Wings March 10, 2-1.

"They’ve played with some confidence since (March 10), or prior to (that game)," McLellan said. "Their goaltending has been really elite in the last few weeks. Ullmark has given them a chance to play through some patches in games where they haven’t played real well or it got a little ugly for a few shifts. He's been able to bail them out.

"To beat that team, you have to get rewarded during those minutes."

The Wings didn't so in Ottawa, and didn't do enough Thursday at LCA, either.

Many of these Wings' games against Ottawa have been chippy and physical over the last three seasons and Thursday's was no different.

Simon Edvinsson and Ottawa's Brady Tkachuk had a quick scrap in the first period and there was numerous pushing, shoving and face-washing throughout the evening.

Nobody was surprised, and everyone on the Wings pretty much expected it.

"We play each other a lot every year," Raymond said. "These games are always good, with high intensity and a lot of emotions. Nothing changes, even with where (the teams) are at in the standings. ... It’s going to be a fun game."

Time is running out for the Wings, who only have 10 games remaining after Thursday. McLellan has been adamant about putting the focus only on the next game and not looking at the bigger picture the Wings need to confront.

"We've been trying to do that, almost from Day 1 here, where we want to focus on what's in front of us and deal with that," McLellan said. "Put a good effort in, adjust, fix things and then move on. I don't think that changes at all down the stretch here. We start looking at schedule, games, point differential that stuff, it's not going to do us any good."