Dylan Larkin scored his team-high 21st goal and the host Detroit Red Wings held off the slumping Winnipeg Jets, 2-1, on Wednesday night.
Larkin and Mason Appleton scored in the first period for the Atlantic Division-leading Red Wings. John Gibson made 24 saves for Detroit, which finished 11-3-1 in the month of December. All but three of those victories were decided by a single goal.
Logan Stanley scored the lone goal for the Jets, who have lost seven straight. All but one of those defeats were decided by one goal.
Connor Hellebuyck made 17 saves.
The Jets were the more physical team, getting credited with 24 hits compared to the Red Wings’ 14. However, the Red Wings defenders helped preserve the lead by blocking 20 shots.
With John Morrissey in the penalty box for roughing, the Wings grabbed the lead midway through the first period. Larkin fired a shot that eluded Hellebuyck’s glove, with Moritz Seider and Lucas Raymond collecting assists.
Appleton made it 2-0 after a Jets turnover at center ice. J.T. Compher collected the puck, skated into Winnipeg territory and passed it to Appleton, whose shot bounced off Hellebuyck’s pads, deflected off defenseman Luke Schenn and into the net.
There were four penalties called, two on each side, in the second period, and Winnipeg had an 11-6 shots on goal advantage but it didn’t affect the score.
Stanley scored with 12:56 remaining to pull the Jets within one. He took a pass from Jonathan Toews and skated into the right circle. His shot from a tough angle managed to squeeze through Gibson’s pads.
Shortly thereafter, Detroit killed off a penalty against Larkin. Gibson made a quality save against Gustav Nyquist with 1:38 remaining to clinch the Red Wings victory.
Detroit now plays a home-and-home set against Pittsburgh, beginning with a road game on Thursday. The Jets will try once again to end their slide at Toronto on Thursday.
–Field Level Media
