A strong first period and secondary scoring put the Detroit Red Wings in good position going into the third period against a divisional rival.
The Wings scored first and kept going in the rematch against the Boston Bruins, building on the last meeting by adding offense to another improved team defense performance. Their power play clicked, too, scoring a crucial goal in the third period to help the Wings pull away and hold on to win, 5-4, in a nailbiter in an Atlantic Division matchup on Tuesday, Dec. 2.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementIt was the Wings' last chance to shine at Little Caesars Arena for two weeks, as they next head out on a six-game trek. Next up for the Wings, a stop in Columbus, Ohio, to face the Blue Jackets on Thursday (7:30 p.m., ESPN+/Hulu).
The victory Tuesday was the Wings' first since Nov. 22, improved their record to 14-11-2, and ended an 0-3-1 skid. The one point came last Saturday, when the Wings lost in a shootout at Boston. Unlike that affair, which featured a fight and multiple scrums, the rematch was relatively quiet until the third period, when tempers flared.
Detroit Red Wings defenseman Moritz Seider (53), center, celebrates scoring a goal against Boston Bruins during the first period at Little Caesars Arena in Detroit on Tuesday, Dec. 2, 2025.HOME SWEET HOME: Detroit Red Wings put priority on protecting home in parity-packed NHL
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementLucas Raymond scored the Wings' fifth goal – the eventual winner – during a man advantage early in the third period. Moritz Seider picked up his third point of the night on the play, and Patrick Kane, his second.
Marat Khusnutdinov scored during four-on-four play late in the third period, and Alex Steeves added his second of the night with 9.7 seconds on the clock, and the Bruins with the extra skater – but they couldn't undo the groundwork the Wings put down early.
John Gibson comes out confident in net
The Wings delivered their best first period in weeks, begging the question why it has taken so long. It was the kind of performance – solid team defense, good scoring chances – that takes the pressure off the goaltender, which this night was John Gibson. He hadn't earned a win since Oct. 28, and having given up five goals in each of his previous three starts. But he delivered a confident first period, making 10 saves to match the effort from the skaters.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementThe Wings were first on the scoreboard, at 6:52 of the first period. Albert Johansson sprang James van Riemsdyk with a pass up along the boards, and van Riemsdyk wheeled through the left circle and beat Jeremy Swayman with a high shot to the glove side.
Detroit Red Wings left wing Lucas Raymond (23) shoots the puck against Boston Bruins defenseman Jonathan Aspirot (45) during the first period at Little Caesars Arena in Detroit on Tuesday, Dec. 2, 2025.Van Riemsdyk tried for a second around the 12-minute mark, maneuvering the puck around Hampus Lindholm and driving the net before firing a backhand, but Swayman had too good of a look at the shot to let that one by.
Moritz Seider strikes
Instead, it was Seider, who had a fight in Saturdays game against the Bruins, who made it 2-0 when he took a pass from Kane and fired a shot from the top of the left circle that hit the post and went in.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementDeBrincat made it 3-0 less than two minutes into the second period – but then the Bruins started chipping away. Jonathan Aspirot celebrated his first career NHL goal a little past the midway point of the period when he fired an unscreened shot from the point that Gibson saw the whole way but was unable to stop. Four minutes later, Steeves pounced on Lindholm's rebound to cut the Wings' lead to 3-2, at 15:38.
Ben Chiarot struck next for the Wings. The defensive defenseman recorded his third goal in six games when Dylan Larkin centered the puck and Chiarot fired a shot from the low slot that gave the Wings a 4-2 lead after two periods.
Contact Helene St. James at [email protected].
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This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Detroit Red Wings ride hot 1st period to 5-4 win over Boston Bruins
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