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Detroit Red Wings: Best way to bond is to do this

Detroit Red Wings James van Riemsdyk, John Gibson, Axel Sandin-Pellikka and Todd McLellan, Dec. 3, 2025 in Detroit.

Once again for the Detroit Red Wings, it was how they finished, not how they started – though in this case, they were fairly similar.

Shutout in the first period, the Wings rallied from a third-period deficit at Nationwide Arena in Columbus, Ohio. But goalie Cam Talbot couldn’t keep the Blue Jackets out of the net in the final two minutes, or in the shootout, sending the Wings (14-11-3) to their fifth loss in six games, 6-5, on Thursday, Dec. 4.

The Red Wings opened a six-game road trip with a strong power play performance, at least, as their first three goals all came with the man advantage.

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Dylan Larkin, Lucas Raymond and James van Riemsdyk all scored on the power play in the second period. For van Riemsdyk, it was his fourth goal in five games, after scoring once in his first 17.

Talbot finished with 25 saves, while Elvis Merzlikins had 28.

Second-period rally

Columbus led 1-0 after the first period after Provorov scored with a wrister from the point past a screened Talbot with 2:05 left in the period.

But as Provorov gave, he also took away: He was whistled for a delay of game penalty in the opening minute of the second period and Detroit cashed in on the power play. Moritz Seider flipped the puck toward the net and Larkin redirected it past Merzlikins’ glove.

Columbus answered with two goals in quick succession. The Blue Jackets converted on their first power play opportunity. With Axel Sandin-Pellikka in the penalty box, Kirill Marchenko scored from the left circle, flicking the puck between Talbot’s pads. Less than two minutes later, Kent Johnson (Michigan) scored in front, shoveling in a rebound of a Cole Sillinger shot.

Patrick Kane and Alex DeBrincat then scored just over two minutes apart to erase a one-goal deficit midway through the third period. Kane’s goal was No. 496 in his career, as he nears becoming the fifth U.S.-born player to score 500 goals. (The others: Joe Mullen, Jeremy Roenick, Keith Tkachuk and former Red Wing Mike Modano.) DeBrincat put Detroit on top with 8:22 remaining when he skated into the slot and fired a shot past Merzlikins’ glove.

Van Riemsdyk and Raymond were stopped in the shootout, while Johnson and Marchenko each scored on Talbot.

Fantilli fantastic

Adam Fantilli, who won the Hobey Baker Award in his only year at Michigan, scored with 6:10 remaining in the second period to give the Blue Jackets a 4-3 lead, then added a second goal, with an extra skater on the ice after the Jackets pulled their goalie, to even it at 6-5 with 91 seconds remaining. Fantilli’s tying goal, his 11th of the season, came from near the blue line and caromed off a defender and past Talbot.

Next up, the Red Wings head to the West Coast, with a visit to Seattle to face the Kraken on Saturday (10 p.m., FanDuel Sports Network Detroit).

Next up: Kraken

Matchup: Red Wings (14-11-3) at Seattle (11-7-6).

Faceoff: 10 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 6; Climate Pledge Arena, Seattle.

TV/radio: FanDuel Sports Network Detroit Extra; WXYT-FM (97.1).