Detroit — The Red Wings opened their exhibition season Tuesday with a 3-2 victory over the Chicago Blackhawks.

Or, to be more accurate, it really was the Grand Rapids Griffins defeating the Rockford IceHogs.

But that’s fine, as far as the Wings are concerned. Many young players who are trying to establish themselves made a good impression.

“From a team perspective we started out feeling our way into the game,” Wings coach Todd McLellan said. “When we began to understand what a shot could do, and the tenacity of hunting down pucks off of that, it got a lot better for us.

“We were on the gas a lot from the team perspective. That was good to see.”

BOX SCORE: Red Wings 3, Blackhawks 2

Emmitt Finnie continued his impressive play from training camp with a goal and assist for the Wings. Finnie’s goal at 12 minutes, 38 seconds of the third period snapped a 2-2 tie.

The line of Finnie, Nate Danielson (goal) and Michael Brandsegg-Nygard (two assists) was effective all game.

“We talk about the gas pedal and brake, all three of them were race cars,” McLellan said.

The Wings outshot Chicago 43-17 with Blackhawks goalie Arvid Soderblom — yes, Elmer’s brother — making 40 saves. Sebastian Cossa stopped 15 shots for the Wings in a winning performance.

Chicago’s Wyatt Kaiser scored at 6:26 of the third period, tying the game at 2.

But Finnie broke the tie, stripping Chicago star Connor Bedard of the puck to begin the sequence.

“I didn’t realize that at the time. I saw the puck bobble and I tried to go get it,” Finnie said.

Finnie has been the surprising story in camp, a former seventh-round draft pick who continues to make positive plays with whomever he’s with on a line.

“Every day they’ve been encouraging me and very positive to me,” Finnie said. “My confidence has definitely been growing.”

Finnie’s speed has been exhibited on a daily basis so far.

“My speed and pace have been working for me,” Finnie said. “I’ve been trying to be tenacious on pucks.”

McLellan’s knowledge of Finnie was limited heading into training camp, but he’s been impressed since training camp began.

“He always sounded like the type of player a coach would appreciate, a worker,” McLellan said. “I see that in him but there’s more. There’s the playmaker, the skating part. Coaches can fall in love with workers but they have to produce, too.

“Emmitt is a worker, he’s a tenacious player, a good skater and he gets things done. Something happens when he’s out there and so far, so good.”

Bedard (power play) — one of the few recognizable Blackhawks names playing for most fans — had Chicago’s other goal.

Carter Mazur gave the Wings a 1-0 lead at 14:26 of the first period, converting a nice pass from Finnie. It was Mazur’s first game action since suffering an elbow injury March 6 in his NHL debut, on the second shift.

“I’ve been out for six months now, so getting back in the game feel, and how I was playing, is kind of my goal now,” Mazur said. “I feel it’s a good start.”

Mazur spoke for all the Wings that it was nice to actually see an opposing team, rather than their own teammates in an intra-squad scrimmage for the last several days.

“It’s a lot better playing against these guys instead of playing against each other, for sure,” Mazur said.

After Bedard tied it on a one-timer at 2:41 of the second period, Danielson regained the lead for the Wings, 2-1, deflecting William Wallinder’s point shot at the 4:21 mark.

tkulfan@detroitnews.com

@tkulfan

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