The Detroit Red Wings staged a thrilling comeback on Tuesday night, defeating the Minnesota Wild 3-2 at the Xcel Energy Center. This match was the second consecutive face-off between the two teams, following the Wild's 4-3 overtime win over the Red Wings on Saturday.
The Wild started strong, with Marco Rossi scoring his 21st goal of the season just 7:17 minutes after the puck drop. Jakub Lauko followed suit, netting his third goal only four minutes later, giving Minnesota a commanding 2-0 lead. After dominating the early stages, they seemed to have the edge against the visiting Red Wings.
Detroit, determined to turn the tide, managed to get on the scoreboard halfway through the second period. Veteran winger Vladimir Tarasenko, finding the right spot, received a pass from Erik Gustafsson and scored with 9:48 left to play, cutting the deficit to 2-1.
Just three minutes later, Simon Edvinsson delivered the equalizer for Detroit, scoring his sixth goal of the season following a slick setup from Alex DeBrincat. This goal shifted the momentum entirely as the Red Wings found their rhythm.
Heading to the final period tied at 2-2, the atmosphere was electric. Edvinsson became the star of the night when he scored the game-winning goal with 8:25 left on the clock. His blistering slap shot from the left circle found its way past Wild goaltender Filip Gustavsson, who struggled to see it through the crowd. This marked the first two-goal game of Edvinsson’s young career.
Despite being outshot 24-16, Detroit’s defense held strong late in the game, successfully weathering Minnesota's attempts to tie the game again, especially after the Wild pulled their goaltender for an extra attacker with just under two minutes remaining.
Goalie Cam Talbot stood tall with 22 saves against his former team, contributing significantly to the victory and helping secure the Red Wings' second win in a row, improving their record to 30-22-6.
The Wild’s coach, John Hynes, expressed disappointment with the outcome. "I think it’s a disappointing loss from the sense we played a really solid game. We carried play, but sometimes that's how it goes," he remarked after the game, highlighting the missed opportunities as the Wild fell to 34-19-4 this season.
The early offensive efforts from Minnesota set the tone, with Rossi described as someone who continued to pressure Talbot with low-velocity shots, which led to his goal during Minnesota's power play. Lauko's goal was equally significant, representing his first tally since returning from injury, demonstrating his perseverance during the season.
The Red Wings, after showing resilience, are now eyeing potential playoff contention, as they have secured points in 10 of their last 11 games—an impressive feat considering the challenges they faced. This victory also set the stage for their upcoming games, as they prepare to face the Utah Hockey Club and the Avalanche on the road.
Both teams will continue to navigate their respective seasons, with Minnesota aiming to bounce back from this setback at home and the Red Wings capitalizing on their momentum as they push for the playoffs.