The energy inside Little Caesars Arena on January 12, 2026, was nothing short of electric as the Detroit Red Wings hosted the Carolina Hurricanes in a night loaded with history, emotion, and high-octane hockey. Before the puck even dropped, the Red Wings faithful turned out in droves for a ceremony decades in the making: the retirement of Sergei Fedorov’s iconic jersey.
Fedorov, flanked by his wife Karina and children Alexandra and Viktor, soaked in the adulation as his number was hoisted to the rafters. The crowd roared, reliving memories of Fedorov’s dazzling skating and game-breaking goals that helped define an era of Detroit dominance. In a fitting touch, Fedorov arrived in a classic Corvette and was presented with a pair of his signature white Nike skates—a nod to his unmistakable style on the ice. The ceremony crescendoed with Fedorov participating in a ceremonial puck drop alongside Carolina’s Andrei Svechnikov and Detroit captain Dylan Larkin, symbolizing the passing of the torch to a new generation of Red Wings.
But sentimentality quickly gave way to the business at hand: a critical midseason clash between two surging teams. The Hurricanes entered the night with a 28-14-3 record, riding a four-game winning streak after a tight 3-2 victory over the Seattle Kraken. Logan Stankoven, the rookie center, had notched his 10th goal of the campaign in that contest, helping Carolina maintain their status as one of the league’s most consistent squads despite adversity in the crease. With goaltender Pyotr Kochetkov sidelined for the season due to a hip injury, 27-year-old rookie Brandon Bussi had stepped into the spotlight, boasting a sparkling 2.28 goals-against average—good for fourth in the NHL. Yet, on this night, it was Frederik Andersen between the pipes, aiming to rebound from what’s been, statistically, the toughest season of his career. Andersen’s 3.35 GAA stood in stark contrast to his career 2.58 mark, but he looked to channel last season’s success against Detroit, when he posted a 1.50 GAA and .941 save percentage in two starts.
The Red Wings, meanwhile, were no slouches. Sitting at 27-15-4 and fresh off a three-game winning streak of their own—including a commanding 4-0 shutout of Montreal—the Wings were lighting up the scoreboard, tallying 14 goals over their recent run. Dylan Larkin and Alex DeBrincat each entered the night with 23 goals, while John Gibson, the projected starter, sported a 16-9-1 record, a 2.75 GAA, and three shutouts. Gibson had been particularly sharp in January, winning three straight and stopping all 27 shots in his last outing.
With betting lines favoring the Hurricanes at -145 and the over/under set at 6 goals, expectations were for a close, hard-fought affair. The Hurricanes had taken the first meeting of the season, 5-2, back in late December, and many pundits predicted another tight contest—perhaps a 3-2 edge for Carolina, given their league-best 24.3 shots allowed per game and the recent return of defensive stalwart Jaccob Slavin.
Yet, Detroit’s home ice and the palpable buzz from Fedorov’s jersey retirement seemed to tip the scales. The Red Wings have a quirky but impressive historical stat: they’ve never lost in regulation on a night they retired a jersey while facing a franchise that relocated from another market. The Hurricanes, of course, fit that bill, having moved from Hartford. Previous examples? Detroit topped the Dallas Stars (formerly Minnesota North Stars) when Sid Abel’s number was retired in 1995, and while they lost to the Colorado Avalanche (formerly Quebec Nordiques) in 2014 during Nicklas Lidstrom’s ceremony, that defeat only came in overtime.
As play got underway, it was clear both teams were determined to make their mark. The first period saw Detroit’s James van Riemsdyk break the ice, celebrating after slipping the puck past Carolina’s defense and Frederik Andersen. Dylan Larkin, ever the engine for Detroit, was relentless, battling for pucks and setting the tone with his effort. John Gibson, as advertised, made a series of key pad saves to keep the Hurricanes at bay.
The second period belonged to Detroit’s blue line. Albert Johansson unleashed a rocket from the point, beating Andersen clean and sending the home crowd into a frenzy. Johansson, along with DeBrincat and veteran Patrick Kane, celebrated as the Red Wings extended their lead. The Hurricanes, however, refused to go quietly. They pressed back, with Seth Jarvis and Nikolaj Ehlers generating dangerous chances, but Gibson stood tall.
Carolina’s persistence paid off in the third. Right wing Jackson Blake and Jarvis each found the back of the net, with Jarvis’s goal knotting the game and silencing the Detroit faithful—at least momentarily. Shayne Gostisbehere added another for Carolina, capping a furious rally that underscored why the Canes are considered a legitimate Stanley Cup threat. The Red Wings, though, responded in kind. Lucas Raymond and Michael Rasmussen helped tilt the ice back in Detroit’s favor, and the teams traded blows until the final horn signaled overtime was needed to settle the score.
In the extra frame, it was Andrew Copp who played the hero. Taking a slick feed from Moritz Seider, Copp buried the game-winner past Andersen, sending Little Caesars Arena into jubilation and ensuring that Detroit’s quirky unbeaten regulation streak on jersey retirement nights remained intact. The Red Wings took the contest 4-3 in overtime, a fitting end to a night already steeped in nostalgia and emotion.
After the game, the buzz wasn’t just about the two points earned, but about the sense of continuity and legacy. Fedorov’s presence, the jersey in the rafters, and the next generation of Red Wings stars all converged for a night that, frankly, felt bigger than hockey itself. “These ceremonies remind us what it means to be part of this organization,” Larkin said, echoing the sentiments of fans and alumni alike.
For the Hurricanes, the loss stung, but their resilience was on full display. Even without their top netminder and facing a raucous Detroit crowd, they clawed back from a deficit and forced overtime. For Detroit, the victory was more than just two points—it was a celebration of past glory and a statement that the future remains bright in Hockeytown.
As the echoes of cheers faded and fans filtered out into the chilly Michigan night, one thing was clear: on a night dedicated to a legend, the Red Wings and Hurricanes delivered a game worthy of the occasion.
