Red Wings edge out the win in 3-2 overtime result against the Blue Jackets

Michael Rasmussen #27, Frans Nielsen #81, Jon Merrill #24 and Danny DeKeyser #65 of the Detroit Red Wings celebrate with teammate Bobby Ryan #54 after he scores a goal during the second period of an NHL game against the Columbus Blue Jackets at Little Caesars Arena on January 19, 2021 in Detroit, Michigan. (Photo by Dave Reginek/NHLI via Getty Images)

The Red Wings fought to the bitter end and did it quickly when they had it at Little Caesar’s Arena Tuesday night. Tyler Bertuzzi got credit for the overtime goal that occurred quickly to give Detroit the 3-2 win over the Columbus Blue Jackets. 

 Detroit’s slip up against Columbus on Monday left them down but not out with one more shot at leveling their record. Elvis Merzlikins earned the nod to start for the Blue Jackets in his 33rd time as a goaltender. The Red Wings looked to find their stride with the offense and bring more than teammate Bobby Ryan who notched his second and third against them. In their last game at home before hitting the road, a win would put them in a place that prepared them for the battles ahead. 

The Blue Jackets started on time with Detroit trailing on shots to the net. As the game neared the halfway point of the first period, Columbus had 6 shots while the Red Wings got a few at Merzlikins. While neither team made a true push to score, it gave Detroit a chance to catch up with them on shots to the net. After 20 minutes were in the books, Columbus outshot the Red Wings 8-7 and only three scoring chances combined. 

Both teams improved as the second got underway, but bad coverage helped Max Domi who came into the slot with the puck but suddenly made a pass to his left. There he found Boone Jenner who one-timed the shot and scored it top shelf behind Jonathan Bernier for his second of the season. The Red Wings answered nearly two minutes later with Anthony Mantha making a push to level the score while on the power play. 

He took a shot on Merzlikins which was blocked but came back to him for another try. The second chance worked out giving Mantha his first and notching the first power-play goal in seven attempts. For the next 11 minutes, things began to calm with the Blue Jackets getting a chance on the power play but coming up short when it came to taking the lead. During a play in the Columbus zone, Seth Jones and Ryan got the sticks together that sent the puck flipping high and into the net for his fourth. 

He became the first Red Wings player in history to score four goals in his first three games with the franchise. Detroit outshot the Blue Jackets 10-8 with a strong finish and with the lead, they would try to go for broke with the third remaining. 

Columbus wanted to lead back quickly and they showed Detroit a thing or two during the opening minutes. They took three shots while the Red Wings managed a pair. At 14:27, the Blue Jackets made a statement that turned the game around. Liam Foudy got very close to the net and got a stick on the puck that made its way into the net. Detroit chose to challenge the call due to goaltender interference. Officials took a quick look and determined that there wasn’t any to impede Bernier. 

With the game tied at two-all, Detroit went a man down but got the penalty killed off. Columbus didn’t stop as they pressured the Red Wings zone with plenty of shots to the net of Bernier. Detroit put a stop to it as time fell off the clock with the end of regulation nearing. They took their scoring chances on Merzlikins, but he refused to give up the game-winner with less than two minutes to go. 

When time expired, there still wasn’t a winner as each received a point and went 4 on 4 for a shot at the other. Columbus won the opening faceoff but quickly had the puck stolen by Larkin and his line. The Red Wings captain bided his time, waited for the shot, and drove the puck to the net. It hit off the pad of Merzlikins but went off the upper thigh of Bertuzzi that returned toward the net ending the game just 15 seconds into overtime. 

“We played a good 60 minutes and it paid off in the end when we play hard and do the right thing, said Bertuzzi to Fox Sports Detroit reporter John Keating. It was his first of the season but the one they truly needed to sit at .500 through four games. 

“It was a quick turn up, Bertuzzi said. “I just tried to beat my man to the ice. I knew Larkin would be up there with me and just go to the net. Larks shot it and it hit my butt and went in.” While it was an unusual way to score the game-winner, Bertuzzi and the Red Wings will enjoy the finish to their homestand before heading out to the road. They’ll head over to Chicago to face the Blackhawks in an Original Six matchup with a team that hasn’t logged a victory in just yet.