DETROIT – A tumultuous 2024 during which the Detroit Red Wings missed a playoff spot due to a tiebreaker and fired their coach eight months later, ended in a positive fashion on Tuesday. J.T.
Compher’s power-play goal with 5:24 remaining in the third period snapped a tie and the Red Wings defeated the Pittsburgh Penguins 4-2 in their traditional New Year’s Eve game at Little Caesars Arena. The Red Wings (15-18-4) have won two in a row and are 2-1-0 under new coach Todd McLellan, who replaced Derek Lalonde on Dec. 26.
Alex Lyon made 23 saves for his second win a row. Jonathan Berggren had a goal and an assist. Patrick Kane and Dylan Larkin also scored.
Larkin’s goal, his first in 16 games, was an empty-net tally that sealed the outcome with 14 seconds remaining. Compher’s goal, his fifth, came after Erik Gustafsson’s shot from the blue line hit goaltender Alex Nedeljkovic and rolled around in the crease. Kane also scored on the power play – a snipe from the right faceoff circle -- to snap a 1-1 tie at 3:41 of the second.
It was his fourth goal in seven games and seventh of the season. Drew O’Connor scored his second of the game, on the power play, to tie it at 3:18 of the second. He poked in a loose puck sitting near the goal line during a scramble.
The Red Wings dominated the first half the opening period, registering the first seven shots. Berggren scored on a breakaway at 7:52, converting an outlet pass from Vladimir Tarasenko for his fifth goal. The Penguin.