The Detroit Red Wings begin a four-game Western swing when they face the host Edmonton Oilers on Thursday night.
The Red Wings and the Oilers, playing the penultimate game of a six-game homestand, have each won three consecutive games.
Most recently, Detroit defeated the visiting Los Angeles Kings 5-2, and Edmonton beat the Seattle Kraken 4-2, both games on Monday night.
Lucas Raymond scored his 20th goal of the season and added three assists for the Red Wings on Monday. It is the third 20-goal season for Raymond, who is in his fourth season and leads Detroit with 56 points in 50 games.
“Boy, you don’t realize how impactful he is on a game,” Red Wings coach Todd McLellan said of Raymond. “Not always in wins, even in losses, the impact he has on a game night after night after night. So consistent, competitive. A lot of fire in him and the skill to go with it.”
Detroit is 11-4-1 since McLellan took over as coach on Dec. 26.
Marco Kasper tallied two goals and an assist and Alex DeBrincat and Elmer Soderblom also scored against the Kings. Dylan Larkin had two assists and Cam Talbot made 24 saves.
It was Soderblom’s first goal of the season. The 6-8, 246-pound winger was playing in his fourth game since being recalled from Grand Rapids of the American Hockey League, where he has been playing since he had eight points (five goals, three assists) in 21 games with the Red Wings during the 2022-23 season.
“I feel like I’ve grown as a player and I’m starting to use my size, my skills and my shot to my advantage,” the 23-year-old Swede said. “I know a little more what it takes, and it feels good.”
In the Oilers’ win on Monday, Connor McDavid scored in his return from a three-game suspension for crosschecking Vancouver’s Conor Garland on the helmet on Jan. 18. The win moved Edmonton to 7-2-0 in its last nine games.
As usual, both McDavid and teammate Leon Draisaitl are among the NHL’s top 10 scorers. Draisaitl has 75 points (35 goals, 40 assists) in 50 games and McDavid 66 points (21 goals, 45 assists) in 44 games.
Edmonton coach Kris Knoblauch said his stars’ consistent production has been a big part of the team’s hot streak.
“Your best players, McDavid and Leon, putting up the numbers that they do consistently,” he said.
Defenseman Mattias Ekholm had a goal and an assist against the Kraken while backup goaltender Calvin Pickard stopped 26 shots in a game that he played only because No. 1 goaltender Stuart Skinner was not available due to the birth of his second son, Darcy.
“I knew it was close to kid time for him. I got a text that he was heading to the hospital last night, so I went to bed preparing to play,” said Pickard, who is 9-1-0 in his past 10 starts. “It felt like a similar game day to the rest of them. It was nice, a good win.
Skinner is now back with the team, though defenseman John Klingberg (hip surgery) is not expected to make his season debut until Saturday.
Red Wings forward Vladimir Tarasenko is also expected back after missing a game with illness. J.T. Compher (upper body) and Patrick Kane (upper body) are expected to miss the game.
–Field Level Media
