The Carolina Hurricanes outplayed the Detroit Red Wings, handing them their third consecutive loss in the NHL. Jordan Martinook contributed a goal and an assist to lead the Hurricanes to a 2-1 victory at Little Caesars Arena.
Jordan Staal also found the back of the net, while Frederik Andersen made 24 saves for the Hurricanes (36-22-4), who have now won three of their last four games. “I loved it. I thought we played three good periods without a letdown,” Carolina coach Rod Brind’Amour said, per NHL.com. “That’s a really good team, and we didn’t give up a lot. That was a great effort.”
Elmer Söderblom scored the lone goal for the Red Wings, and Alex Lyon recorded 28 saves for Detroit (30-25-6), who have now dropped three straight and five of their last seven (2-4-1). This marked their first game since falling 5-3 to the Columbus Blue Jackets in the NHL Stadium Series on Saturday.
Todd McLellan’s admission
“It’s a shame that the winning goal came on a bad bounce because I thought Alex made a lot of great saves for us,” Red Wings coach Todd McLellan said postgame.
Mikko Rantanen #96 of the Carolina Hurricanes tries to control the puck in front of Justin Holl #3 of the Detroit Red Wings during the first period at Little Caesars Arena on March 04, 2025 in Detroit, Michigan. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)
The Hurricanes dominated possession late in the second period, forcing Detroit’s defenders Albert Johansson and Simon Edvinsson into an extended shift, but Lyon stood tall to keep Carolina from widening the gap.
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Lineup adjustments and missed opportunities
Carolina struck first late in the opening period when Jalen Chatfield forced a turnover from Moritz Seider in the defensive zone, setting up Martinook at the top of the circle for a backhand shot that beat Lyon. Staal doubled the lead early in the second period.
Söderblom cut the deficit to 2-1 early in the third, giving the Red Wings a glimmer of hope. Lyon kept the game within reach by denying Taylor Hall on a penalty shot. In the final moments, Lucas Raymond took a hit from Staal and left the ice under his own power after being attended to by the team’s medical staff. “I think he’s OK,” McLellan said. “He took a forearm, I think, up to the jaw area, but I think he’s fine.”
Red Wings’ key shortcomings
One of Detroit’s biggest struggles in the loss was their inefficiency in faceoffs, winning just 19 of 48 (40%). McLellan pointed to this as a crucial factor, noting that the team has maintained a 50.5% success rate this NHL season.
The game highlighted the Red Wings’ weaknesses in key areas such as puck possession and consistency. Carolina’s ability to capitalize on mistakes and dictate the pace ultimately proved decisive in securing the victory.
