Alex DeBrincat scored the game-winning goal in the final three minutes of Tuesday’s 3-2 win over the Islanders.
Alex DeBrincat scored the game-winning goal in the final three minutes of Tuesday’s 3-2 win over the Islanders.
Detroit — The Red Wings have talked much in recent days about finding different ways to win.
Tuesday, upon returning home from a six-game road trip, they had a big third period, rallying from a 1-0 deficit and then snapping a tie, to defeat the New York Islanders, 3-2.
Alex DeBrincat’s second power play goal of the period, at 17 minutes, 43 seconds, his 20th goal, broke a 2-2 tie. DeBrincat got his own rebound and snapped a shot past goaltender Ilya Sorokin.
“Just putting it on the net, honestly,” said DeBrincat of what his plan was with the puck. “He kind of blocks the first one (shot) and slides out of the way. I’m just trying to get it to the net as quick as I can and hopefully catch the goalie off guard.”
Lucas Raymond assisted on all three goals.
The Wings (19-12-3) moved back into first place in the Atlantic Division, and have collected points in eight of 10 games (6-2-2).
“We played pretty well the whole game,” DeBrincat said. “We had a lot of chances. The first five (minutes) were a little slow, but we got our legs under us and competed a little bit better.”
The way the Wings stayed with it Tuesday, didn’t get down when they trailed early, and recovered, was a positive sign in coach Todd McLellan’s estimation of learning how to win.
“We came off after the game and we were talking like ‘maybe we’re finally getting it,” McLellan said. “Based on the start, needing to find a way to skate into the game, giving up a goal and not crumbling, staying patient enough to give ourselves a chance to score.
“Even in the third period, not panicking when they make it 2-2 and not a lot of panic or a fire drill when it was six-on-five. We handled ourselves well there. Maybe we’re starting to get it, and that’s a good thing for all of us.”
BOX SCORE: Red Wings 3, Islanders 2
Axel Sandin-Pellikka and DeBrincat (power play) scored goals 1 minute, 52 seconds apart early in the third period to erase a 1-0 Islanders lead.
Sandin-Pellikka scored his fourth goal, gathering the puck at the point, skating toward the net, and deftly flipping a puck over goaltender Ilya Sorokin at 2:03, tying the game 1-1. DeBrincat quickly broke the tie. With Islanders star rookie Matthew Schaefer in the penalty box for holding, the Wings worked the puck over to DeBrincat at the dot, and DeBrincat snapped a shot, his 19th goal, past Sorokin at 3:55.
“We knew if we had patience, our chances would come,” said Sandin-Pellikka, noting the Wings’ strong second period. “We were looking to build off that.”
But the Islanders came back with Scott Mayfield’s first goal of the season, at 11:26. Mayfield trailed on a rush, got the puck near the hashmarks, and snapped a shot past goaltender John Gibson.
The Wings, though, capitalized on a Mayfield penalty, with DeBrincat scoring his second goal of the period.
“Axel with the huge goal for us there, and guys drawing penalties was big for us,” DeBrincat said. “It felt like we hadn’t been on the power play much, and those two tonight were big.”
Gibson stopped 16 shots, while winning his sixth consecutive decision (10-7-1).
Emil Heineman scored at 4:27 of the first period, his 11th goal on a one-timer on a pass from Mathew Barzal.
But the Wings stayed patient, built their game throughout the evening, and used a big third period to secure another victory.
“The message (after the second period) was pretty simple, we thought if we played the same period over again, less the penalty, we’d give ourselves a chance to win,” McLellan said. “We had enough scoring opportunities, eyeball to eyeball, with the goaltender, three of our four times. If we kept doing that over and over again, we’d at least get one and see what happens from there.
“They stuck with it. It took the first five or seven minutes to get skating and get into the game, and the fact we got scored on and didn’t go away, it’s a positive sign for our group. Maybe we’re getting stronger between the ears perhaps.”
tkulfan@detroitnews.com
@tkulfan
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