Detroit watches Jets jump to lightspeed in 4-1 defeat

Nate Schmidt #88 of the Winnipeg Jets celebrates a goal with teammates on the bench during the first period against the Detroit Red Wings at Little Caesars Arena on October 26, 2023 in Detroit, Michigan. (Photo by Darren Clark/NHLI via Getty Images)

The force was not with the Detroit Red Wings at Little Caesars Arena on Thursday night. The Winnipeg Jets were most impressive, taking advantage of Detroit's penalties and an empty netter, winning 4-1. Alex DeBrincat and Dylan Larkin were left scoreless and pointless, snapping their game streak at six.

Detroit’s loss Tuesday marked their first in overtime after completing a comeback against the Kraken. Despite having their winning streak snapped at home, the Red Wings readied to host the Jets, who won 4-2 against St. Louis. James Reimer returned between the pipes after a win on Calgary Oct. 22, giving up two goals. Connor Hellebuyck made 18 saves and would try to stop the squad and DeBrincat, who made the lineup after an illness.

The Red Wings started the game a man down after David Perron high-sticked Neal Pionk in the face. The Jets took two shots but didn’t get clean chances against the Red Wings PK unit. Winnipeg earned another shot four minutes in after Justin Holl boarded Mark Scheifele. The PK succeeded once again for Detroit, who went on the rush to shoot the puck at Hellebuyck. They had a man advantage in play against the Jets, who with Hellebuyck stopped the power play.

Both teams had eight shots on goal with five minutes left in the period, but at 16:28 Winnipeg struck first. The team set up a play where two shots went on goal until Nick Ehlers earned credit with a drive over the shoulder of Reimer for his first of the season. It was soon 2-0, with Josh Morrisey firing a blocked shot that went to Kyle Connor, scoring his fifth at 17:30. Detroit didn’t make much of the final two and a half minutes, finding themselves in a hole after 20.  

Giving the Jets three power plays was not a good run for their PK, who felt the pressure and couldn’t return to an even-strength position. As they moved into the second period Detroit and captain Dylan Larkin worked through the first three minutes. Mortiz Seider got it to Larkin, who took a shot and watched Lucas Raymond get a scoring shot for his second of the season.

The Jets lost half their lead, sending Morrisey to try and get on the board himself. Reimer made a good stop on the defenseman, allowing his team time with the puck. Detroit produced chances including one from Michael Rasmussen, but Hellebuyck refused to be the one to let them level the score. The same went for Reimer, who wanted to keep his team in the hunt to lead stopping eight through 17 minutes.

The last three saw the teams fight for control but the Jets lead remained after two periods. As they entered the third, Detroit exploded with ten shots on goal through the first six minutes. They got into their second power play, with DeBrincat trying to be the one to tie the game up. Detroit couldn’t get a clean shot at the net in their attempts during the two minutes. After Hellebuyck stopped Larkin’s best chance on net, his team made it 3-1 on a goal from Jason Appleton.

The centerman was at the net and slid the puck in on a backhand, gaining his third of the season and widening the gap. Detroit had 10 minutes to make a comeback as Larkin made the push to try and get his team back. The Red Wings didn’t make any significant scoring chances through half the time, letting time slip by. With more than two to play, coach Derek Lalonde pulled Reimer from the net to gain a sixth attacker.

It didn’t work out as Nino Niederreiter found the empty net with a minute left in regulation to put the nail in the coffin. DeBrincat was left pointless and scoreless, which was exactly the result Winnipeg wanted most to cap their third straight victory.