The Detroit Red Wings continued their strong stretch of play on Friday night, defeating the San Jose Sharks 4–2 at Little Caesars Arena. Dylan Larkin’s go-ahead goal early in the third period proved to be the difference as Detroit notched its second victory in as many meetings against San Jose this season.
Larkin’s Big Third Period Goal
With the game tied 2–2 after two periods, Dylan Larkin delivered the momentum shift Detroit needed, jamming a puck between the post and Sharks goalie Yaroslav Askarov’s pad just 4:41 into the third to give the Red Wings the lead. That marker stood as the go-ahead goal in a game Detroit controlled down the stretch.
Balanced Scoring Across the Lineup
Detroit got contributions from across its lineup:
- Marco Kasper scored his first goal in 37 games and added an assist.
- Alex DeBrincat continued his strong offensive season with his 25th goal.
- J.T. Compher chipped in another goal to pad the lead.
- Lucas Raymond finished with three assists, spearheading much of Detroit’s playmaking.
Goaltender John Gibson made 20 saves to help hold off the Sharks’ offense.
Sharks Fight Back, But Fall Short
San Jose drew early on the strength of goals from Will Smith — returning from an upper-body injury that sidelined him for 13 games — and Collin Graf, keeping the Sharks competitive throughout the first two periods. Macklin Celebrini, one of the NHL’s top scorers this season, added an assist.
Despite outshooting Detroit at times, the Sharks couldn’t find a third-period equalizer against Gibson’s netminding.
What This Win Means for Detroit
The victory improves the Red Wings’ record and keeps their momentum rolling as they aim to remain near the top of the Atlantic Division standings. Scoring from multiple lines and clutch play on special nights adds confidence as Detroit enters the next phase of its schedule.
Up next, the Red Wings are set to host the Ottawa Senators on Sunday.