When the Detroit Red Wings talk about needing more balance in their attack, the defense isn’t usually coming to the fore of that discussion.
“Our blue line isn’t a high-scoring group,” Detroit coach Todd McLellan said.
Necessity is the mother of invention, though, and sometimes, it’s also the avenue to a solution.
Down 3-1 in the third period to the Columbus Blue Jackets on Saturday, the Red Wings were desperate. And desperate times call for desperate measures.
Benny makes it a one-goal game! #LGRW pic.twitter.com/8vh8aAOvez
— Detroit Red Wings (@DetroitRedWings) November 22, 2025
Detroit activated the club’s defense. Everyone from the back was displaying a willingness to join the forefront of the attack.
“I think obviously, once you’re down by two in the third period, you kind of have to take a few more chances,” Red Wings goalie Cam Talbot said.
Active D Nets A Pair For Red Wings
Chances that paid off in huge dividends.
Ben Chiarot dove in from the point to pounce on a loose puck following a blocked shot and blasted it into the net for his second goal of the season. Albert Johansson, still searching for his first goal of the campaign, pinched from the point with the puck, drawing a penalty when Columbus center Charlie Coyle applied a hook to Detroit’s Swedish defender. Seconds after Coyle’s penalty expired. Moritz Seider’s point shot tied the game.
🗣️ MORITZ SEIDER. pic.twitter.com/b7X7fpERAs
— Detroit Red Wings (@DetroitRedWings) November 22, 2025
“We’ve got the D that can skate,” Talbot said. “Albert makes a great play in their zone and takes the puck to the net, draws a penalty for that last one. And I think we scored just after the guy came out of the box.”
Combined, Detroit has 10 goals from its defensemen. By comparison, Columbus blueliners have accounted for 16 goals.
“Man, they do a heck of a job with that,” Talbot said of the Blue Jackets. “(Zach) Werenski, (Ivan) Provorov, and stuff like that, and it gives a lot of other teams problems.
“Our guys did that to them tonight to get us back in the game.”