The Detroit Red Wings have gotten sizable contributions from their youngsters this season. But at the end of the day, even that group was no match for one player: Edmonton’s Connor McDavid.
The three-time MVP assisted on all four of the Oilers’ goals — one in the first period, two in the second, and an empty-netter in the third — in a 4-1 loss for the Wings on Thursday, Dec. 11 at Rogers Place in Edmonton, Alberta, snapping a three-game win streak.
Detroit Red Wings goalie Cam Talbot (39) makes a stop on Edmonton Oilers center Leon Draisaitl (29) take on the Detroit Red Wings during the first period at Rogers Place in Edmonton, Alberta, on Thursday, Dec. 11, 2025.
LET’S MAKE A DEAL? Detroit Red Wings the favorite to trade for Canucks D Quinn Hughes
Advertisement
The loss, combined with Thursday wins by the Tampa Bay Lightning and Boston Bruins, dropped the Wings (17-12-3) into third place in the Atlantic Division, two points clear of Montreal in the division race and a point up on Eastern wild-card leader Philadelphia (which also lost Thursday).
Simon scores
The Wings’ lone goal came from defenseman Simon Edvinsson, who wasn’t sure he’d be able to play after suffering an undisclosed injury and missing all of Wednesday’s third period in Calgary. He wristed home a feed from rookie Nate Danielson 5:41 into the second period.
Former 50-goal scorer (and Michigan alumnus) Zach Hyman was the major beneficiary of McDavid’s largesse – which included a behind-the-back, between-the-legs pass in the second – with a goal in each period for a hat trick, bringing him to five goals on the season. The game was McDavid’s 43rd career four-point game.
Advertisement
Mattias Ekholm scored the Oilers’ second goal, 2:46 into the second period.
Wings forward Patrick Kane was held scoreless for the third straight game, keeping him at 497 career goals in his quest to become the NHL’s 50th 500-goal scorer (and the fifth U.S.-born skater to do so).
On the road … again?
The Red Wings wrap up their six-game, 10-day road trip with a stop at Kane’s home arena for 16 seasons, hitting Chicago to face the Blackhawks on Saturday (8 p.m., FanDuel Sports Network Detroit). The Blackhawks (13-11-6) might be just as road-weary as the Wings, as they play Friday night in St. Louis before returning to the United Center for an Original Six tribute game Saturday.
This story will be updated.
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Detroit Red Wings 3-game win streak ends with 4-1 loss to Oilers