Detroit Red Wings scorched, 6-3, by Pittsburgh Penguins on opening night

Things started so well for the Detroit Red Wings in their season opener — and then it all went awry.

The energy that carried them through Thursday's start faded as the Pittsburgh Penguins marched all over the ice at Little Caesars Arena, scoring three times in 2:33 minutes in the second period. They chased Ville Husso, and made a mockery of the Wings' commitment to puck management. It was only one game, and it's a long season, but the 6-3 loss should rankle the Wings after all their focus during exhibition season on playing better team defense.

Alex DeBrincat and Vladimir Tarasenko provided Detroit's goals. Pittsburgh defenseman Erik Karlsson converted on a power play early in the third period; the Wings, scoreless on their first three power plays, finally converted during a two-man advantage when DeBrincat netted his second goal, midway through the third period. Cam Talbot gave up a goal to Kevin Hayes at 12:21; that was the second goal Talbot allowed on nine shots.

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Jeff Petry did not return after the second period because of an upper-body injury. If needed, the Wings have Albert Johansson waiting for a chance, or the option to recall Justin Holl if they want a right-shot d-man.

Dynamic DeBrincat

DeBrincat, now in his second season with the Wings, scored less than four minutes in when he came up the left flank and one-timed a pass from Lucas Raymond. The Wings need production from DeBrincat, a top-line player, and the hope this season is that it's more consistent than in 2023-24, when he had a hot start but ran cool for long stretches. He showed a lot of energy in the opener, anyway, putting the Wings on a power play when he drew a hooking penalty on top Penguins defenseman Kris Letang with three minutes to go in the first period. DeBrincat drove to the net on one shift during the man advantage but his tip-in attempt went wide.

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Energetic start

DeBrincat's goal was part of a well-paced, high-energy start from the Wings, who kept Joel Blomqvist busy. An early power play saw Patrick Kane snap the puck on one attempt, then have his shot blocked by Marcus Petterson, and Blomqvist deny Kane on a backhand try. Raymond also had a go at Blomqvist during the same shift. Back at even strength, Tarasenko was denied on a rush chance. In all Blomqvist faced 14 shots the first 20 minutes. Husso faced seven; he was beaten at 15:02 when Anthony Beauvillier picked up the puck behind the goal line and fired a shot that went in off Husso to make it 1-1.

Things go south

The Penguins, still led by Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin — who date to days when the Wings and Penguins met in the 2008 and 2009 Stanley Cup finals — marched all over the Wings when the second period began, enough to chase Husso. Beauvillier sccored his second of the game at the 2:55 mark. A minute later, the 38-year-old Malkin skated through the Wings and set up Drew O'Connor. Petterson was credited for a goal at 5:28 that appeared to change direction as it sneaked glove-side on Husso. Whatever the circumstance, that ended Husso's night: four goals on 14 shots, in 25:28 minutes. The performance came, too, after Husso had an outstanding exhibition season that included starts against NHL-loaded Penguins and Toronto Maple Leafs squads. O'Connor scored on Talbot at 13:43 after Kane left O'Connor open, but the call was successfully challenged when a review showed the Penguins were guilty of a hand pass.

Contact Helene St. James at hstjames@freepress.com . Follow her on Twitter @helenestjames .

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Her latest book, “The Franchise: Detroit Red Wings , A Curated History of the Red Wings,” will be available October 2024. Her books, “On the Clock: Behind the Scenes with the Detroit Red Wings at the NHL Draft,” and “The Big 50: The Men and Moments that made the Detroit Red Wings” are available from Amazon , Barnes & Noble and Triumph Books. Personalized copies available via her e-mail.

This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Detroit Red Wings scorched, 6-3, by Pittsburgh Penguins on opening night