Dylan Larkin’s late tying goal and overtime winner propelled the Detroit Red Wings past the Dallas Stars 4-3 on Tuesday night at Little Caesars Arena.
Game Overview
The Red Wings, riding a streak of victories, faced a Dallas squad that had snapped a four-game win run. The game, played on December 23, 2025, saw the Stars outshot Detroit 13-5 in the second period, yet the Wings managed to hold their ground and secure a narrow victory.
Key Moments
- First Period: James van Riemsdyk opened the scoring at 9:23, receiving a pass from Michael Rasmussen and putting the puck past Casey DeSmith. It was van Riemsdyk’s ninth goal of the season.
- Second Period: Roope Hintz tied the game on a power play with 9:13 remaining, firing past DeSmith for his 12th goal. Jamie Benn then grabbed a 2-1 lead with 44 seconds left, cutting to the net after a pass from Matt Duchene.
- Third Period: Emmitt Finnie tied the game on a power play at 3:02. With 8:42 left, Wyatt Johnston gave Dallas a 3-2 lead by redirecting a pass from Miro Heiskanen past DeSmith-his 20th goal and the league-leading 14th power-play goal.
- Late Tie: With 4:03 remaining, Larkin tied the score on a power play, receiving a backward pass through traffic from van Riemsdyk and beating DeSmith.
- Overtime: Larkin skated into the offensive zone, cut into the slot, and fired past DeSmith for his 20th goal of the season, 34 seconds into overtime.
Player Highlights
- Dylan Larkin: Scored the tying goal late in regulation and the overtime winner, his 20th of the season.
- James van Riemsdyk: Added a goal and an assist, his ninth goal overall.
- Emmitt Finnie: Scored for Detroit, tying the game on a power play.
- Moritz Seider: Provided two assists for the Wings.
- Roope Hintz, Jamie Benn, Wyatt Johnston: Each scored for Dallas, snapping the Stars’ four-game win streak.
- Mikko Rantanen: Recorded two assists for Dallas.
- Casey DeSmith: Made 21 saves, stopping 21 shots for the Stars.
- John Gibson: Finished with 19 saves for Detroit.
Statistical Breakdown
- Shots: Dallas outshot Detroit 13-5 in the second period.
- Record Impact: Detroit improved to 9-2-2 in their last 13 games, while Dallas fell to 13-2-3, losing for the fifth time in 18 games.
- Power-Play Goals: Johnston’s 20th goal was also the Stars’ league-leading 14th power-play goal.
Implications
Detroit’s victory marks their third consecutive win, reinforcing their strong finish to the season. Dallas, meanwhile, continues to struggle in a series of losses, highlighting a need for adjustments after a brief four-game winning streak.
Key Takeaways
- Dylan Larkin’s 20th goal of the season sealed a 4-3 overtime win for Detroit.
- Dallas Stars snapped a four-game win streak but suffered their fifth loss in 18 games.
- Detroit improved to 9-2-2 over their last 13 games, bolstering their playoff positioning.
The Red Wings’ resilience in overtime and the individual performances of Larkin, van Riemsdyk, and Finnie underscore a team on the rise, while Dallas faces a challenging road ahead as they seek to regain momentum.
