Slow start costly in Red Wings' 4-2 loss against red-hot Hurricanes

Ted Kulfan, The Detroit News on Mar 14, 2025

Published in Hockey

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This will sting for the Red Wings, who made a valiant effort in the third period Friday after a slow start.

But the Wings were chasing most of Friday's game in Raleigh and ultimately lost, 4-2, to the red-hot Carolina Hurricanes.

Michael Rasmussen's goal at 2:53 of the third period cut the Carolina lead to 3-2. Rasmussen drove to the net, and after an initial save by goaltender Frederik Andersen, Rasmussen flipped in the rebound for his 10th goal.

The Wings had a power play with four minutes left in regulation but failed to convert for the second time in the game, then with goaltender Petr Mrazek pulled for an extra attacker, Carolina's Eric Robinson scored an empty-net goal, his 13th, at 18:49.

The Hurricanes scored three second-period goals, erasing a 1-0 lead on Alex DeBrincat's 31st goal.

Mrazek, making his second start for the Wings since being acquired a week ago, stopped 28 shots while under siege most of the game.

The loss was the Wings' seventh in the last eight games and kept them outside of the Eastern Conference playoff picture. The Wings remain two points behind Columbus (70-68), who own the second and final wild-card spot. The New York Rangers (70 points) and Montreal (69) also stand ahead of the Wings, with Boston tied with the Wings at 68 points.

Taylor Hall, Jack Roslovic and Jalen Chatfield had Carolina's second-period goals. Goaltender Frederik Andersen made 25 saves, as Carolina (40-22-4) won its sixth straight game.

DeBrincat gave the Wings a 1-0 lead after Carolina had controlled the first period. Ben Chiarot separated a Carolina player from the puck, and found DeBrincat skating free in the high circle. DeBrincat cut through the slot and sniped a shot past Andersen.

But Carolina came roaring in the middle period.

Hall tied the game just 22 seconds with his 11th goal, deflecting Jesperi Kotkaniemi's shot. Roslovic made it 2-1 at 5:44, his 21st goal. Kotkaniemi made a nice move to the net and found Roslovic for the easy tip.

Chatfield then capped the onslaught with his sixth goal, at 12:18 after a dominating Hurricanes shift.

Coach Todd McLellan gave credit to the Hurricanes leading into the game on the style Carolina has nearly perfected over the years.

"They are very good defensively, good offensively, too," McLellan said. "They apply pressure in all three zones quickly. When Carolina plays, it has some of the same thoughts and principles that we do. The volume shooting, the rapid fire of pucks and get it back and doing it over again. They're good at it and they're on top of you.

"(There are) segments of the game when they're in your end and it feels a little overwhelming. But if you defend will and hold your ground, you can get through it and be fine."

The Wings used the same scheduling strategy they used earlier in the week. The Wings decided to skip an on-ice practice the day before Friday's game (as they did Tuesday, leading into Wednesday's victory against Buffalo) and spent Thursday with off-ice conditioning and video preparation. Then Friday was a full game day, morning skate.

With a busy schedule to end the season, McLellan and his staff have to balance practice and maintaining energy for games.

"We have to be aware this group has been going (all season)," said McLellan, who was hired by the Wings Dec. 26, almost midway in the season. "Our team needs to practice and work on things, but there's also the balance of trying to prepare them. Sometimes it's beyond the physical part. You're, trying to deal with the mental part of the game too and trying to make sure they're prepared for that.

"It is a delicate thing."