Detroit Red Wings vs Chicago Blackhawks Preseason Game Review September 23, 2025
Game Summary
The Detroit Red Wings opened their 2025-26 NHL preseason with a convincing 3-2 victory over the Chicago Blackhawks at Little Caesars Arena on Tuesday night. Despite the close final score, the Red Wings dominated play throughout much of the contest, outshooting the Blackhawks by a staggering 43-17 margin. The game showcased numerous prospects and young talents from both Original Six franchises as they begin preparations for the upcoming NHL season.
Final Score
Detroit Red Wings: 3
Chicago Blackhawks: 2
Key Performers
Detroit Red Wings
- Emmitt Finnie: The 2023 seventh-round pick was the unexpected star of the night, scoring the game-winning goal with 7:22 remaining in the third period and adding a spectacular between-the-legs drop pass on Carter Mazur’s power-play goal.
- Nate Danielson: The 2023 first-round pick (9th overall) scored Detroit’s second goal, redirecting William Wallinder’s shot to give the Red Wings a 2-1 lead in the second period.
- Carter Mazur: Opened the scoring with a power-play goal at 14:26 of the first period, finishing a beautiful setup from Finnie.
- Michael Brandsegg-Nygård: The 2024 first-round selection (15th overall) contributed two assists, showing promising chemistry with his teammates.
- Sebastian Cossa: The 2021 first-round goaltender (15th overall) was solid in net when called upon, though he wasn’t tested heavily, facing only 17 shots.
Game Flow and Key Moments
First Period
The Blackhawks started the game with surprising energy, with Bedard making an immediate impact and looking dangerous on every shift. However, it was Detroit who struck first when Carter Mazur converted on the power play at 14:26. The goal came after a highlight-reel between-the-legs drop pass from Emmitt Finnie, giving Detroit a 1-0 lead heading into intermission.
Second Period
Chicago answered quickly in the second when Connor Bedard unleashed a blistering one-timer just 13 seconds into a power play, beating Sebastian Cossa to tie the game 1-1. Detroit responded less than two minutes later when Nate Danielson redirected William Wallinder’s point shot to restore the Red Wings’ lead at 2-1.
From this point on, Detroit took complete control of the game, outshooting Chicago 17-5 in the second period alone. The Red Wings’ relentless forecheck and puck-hounding style left the young Blackhawks squad struggling to exit their defensive zone for much of the period.
Third Period
Wyatt Kaiser gave Chicago life early in the final frame, scoring to tie the game at 2-2. However, Detroit’s dominance eventually paid off when Emmitt Finnie scored the go-ahead goal with 7:22 remaining. The Red Wings continued to pressure until the final buzzer, ultimately outshooting Chicago 43-17 over the full 60 minutes.
Coaching Perspectives
Detroit’s head coach Todd McLellan used the preseason opener to evaluate many of the organization’s top prospects. The Red Wings’ strong system play suggested McLellan’s systems are already being well-implemented early in training camp.
Prospect Showcase
The game featured an impressive collection of young talent, with Detroit icing former first-round picks Carter Bear (2025), Michael Brandsegg-Nygård (2024), Nate Danielson (2023), Axel Sandin Pellikka (2023), and Sebastian Cossa (2021).
While preseason results don’t impact the standings, the dominant performance by Detroit’s young core provides optimism for a franchise looking to return to the playoffs after narrowly missing out in recent years. The Red Wings’ aggressive play and the standout performances from prospects like Finnie, Danielson, and Brandsegg-Nygård suggest the organization’s rebuild is progressing well.
Looking Ahead
Both teams will continue their preseason schedules in the coming days as they prepare for the 2025-26 NHL regular season. Detroit’s next exhibition game will be against Toronto.
Photos: Tim Jarrold – In Play! magazine
