DETROIT — Lucas Raymond and Marco Kasper found the back of the net, while Cam Talbot stood tall with 21 saves as the Detroit Red Wings secured a 2-1 victory against the Boston Bruins on Saturday night.
For Detroit, this win is crucial as they fight to keep their playoff hopes alive. It was only their fourth win in the last 15 games. The Red Wings are now level with the New York Islanders, just a single point behind Montreal, Columbus, and the New York Rangers, who are currently tied for the second wild card spot in the Eastern Conference.
The Boston Bruins, undergoing a rebuilding phase after trading their captain Brad Marchand before the deadline, are struggling. This loss marks their eighth consecutive defeat, their longest losing streak since 2010 when they lost 10 in a row.
Morgan Geekie managed to narrow the gap for Boston with a power-play goal early in the second period. Jeremy Swayman made 20 saves for the Bruins. Despite pulling Swayman for an extra attacker with 1:56 remaining, Boston couldn`t find the equalizer.
The game started with high intensity, featuring two separate fights within the first 2:01, even before either team registered a shot on goal.
Kasper opened the scoring at 5:37 of the first period with a wrist shot from the left circle, marking his 15th goal of the season as a rookie.
Raymond extended Detroit`s lead to 2-0 with his 26th goal in the opening minute of the second period. Shortly after, Geekie deflected a pass into the net for his 27th goal.
The Bruins are facing the possibility of missing the playoffs for the first time since 2016, the same year the Red Wings last made a postseason appearance.
Key Points
Bruins: David Pastrnak showcased his playmaking ability by setting up Geekie`s goal with a clever pass. With 35 goals and 51 assists, Pastrnak is among the top 10 point-scorers in the NHL.
Red Wings: Detroit is enduring a tough stretch at a critical time, going 4-10 in March, their worst month of the season.
Turning Point
Talbot secured the win for Detroit with a crucial glove save on Casey Mittelstadt`s shot with just 9.3 seconds remaining in the game.
Stat to Note
Marco Kasper`s 30 points are among the highest for Austrian rookies in NHL history, trailing only three others.
Looking Ahead
The Bruins will host Alex Ovechkin and the Washington Capitals on Tuesday, while the Red Wings will travel to St. Louis for their next game.
Tristan Blackwood