Detroit Red Wings vs Carolina Hurricanes April 4 2025
The Detroit Red Wings secured a crucial 5-3 victory over the Carolina Hurricanes at Little Caesars Arena on April 4, 2025, in a game that significantly impacted the Eastern Conference playoff race. With this win, the Red Wings kept their postseason hopes alive, moving within four points of the Montreal Canadiens for the second wild card spot in the Eastern Conference.
Game Summary
First Period
The Red Wings came out firing, scoring twice in quick succession midway through the first period:
- 9:03 – Ben Chiarot (4) scored, assisted by Alex DeBrincat (30) and Dylan Larkin (35), giving Detroit a 1-0 lead
- 9:29 – Marco Kasper (16) extended the lead to 2-0, with assists from Elmer Söderblom (7) and Lucas Raymond (48)
The Red Wings outplayed the Hurricanes in the opening frame, taking a commanding 2-0 lead into the first intermission.
Second Period
Both teams found the back of the net multiple times in an action-packed second period:
- 1:57 – Carolina’s Jackson Blake (15) cut the deficit to 2-1, assisted by Seth Jarvis (31)
- 9:05 – Patrick Kane (20) restored Detroit’s two-goal advantage with an unassisted breakaway goal
- 9:26 – Michael Rasmussen (11) scored just 21 seconds later, assisted by Tyler Motte (5), extending the lead to 4-1
- 12:36 – Eric Robinson (14) brought Carolina within two goals, with assists from Justin Robidas (1) and Jaccob Slavin (19)
Third Period
The Hurricanes made a push, but the Red Wings managed to hold on for the victory:
- 12:44 – Brent Burns (6) scored for Carolina, assisted by Jack Roslovic (16) and Jaccob Slavin (20), making it 4-3
- 19:59 – Alex DeBrincat (34) sealed the win with an empty-net goal, assisted by Dylan Larkin (36), for the final 5-3 score
Team Statistics
| Category | Carolina Hurricanes | Detroit Red Wings |
|---|---|---|
| Shots on Goal | 33 | 21 |
| Hits | 7 | 17 |
| Penalty Minutes | 4 | 4 |
| Faceoff Win % | 60.7% | 39.3% |
| Blocked Shots | 6 | 25 |
Notable Player Performances
Detroit Red Wings
- Patrick Kane earned first-star honors with his 20th goal of the season, marking his 17th season with at least 20 goals, a new record for U.S.-born players
- Alex DeBrincat tallied a goal and an assist, including the empty-netter to seal the victory
- Dylan Larkin contributed two assists, showing leadership in a crucial game
- Cam Talbot made 30 saves on 33 shots, coming up with big stops when needed
- Michael Rasmussen scored a highlight-reel spinning backhand goal that proved to be crucial
Carolina Hurricanes
- Brent Burns earned third-star honors with his goal that brought the Hurricanes within one in the third period
- Seth Jarvis extended his point streak to six games (3 goals, 6 assists) with an assist
- Jaccob Slavin recorded two assists, demonstrating his two-way value
- Justin Robidas earned his first NHL point with an assist in his debut game
Game Impact on Standings
Detroit Red Wings (36-34-7, 79 points)
- Moved within four points of the Montreal Canadiens for the second wild card spot in the Eastern Conference
- Improved to 20-16-3 at home this season
- Won their second game in the last three (2-0-1)
Carolina Hurricanes (46-25-4, 96 points)
- Missed an opportunity to move past Tampa Bay for second place in the Atlantic Division
- Remained four points behind the Toronto Maple Leafs (98 points) for the division lead
- Had their three-game winning streak snapped
- Finished the season series against Detroit with a 2-1 record
Key Moments and Observations
The Red Wings’ ability to score in bunches proved decisive in this contest, with two pairs of goals coming in quick succession:
- Chiarot and Kasper scored 26 seconds apart in the first period
- Kane and Rasmussen netted goals just 21 seconds apart in the second period
Carolina was missing several key players, including Andrei Svechnikov, Jordan Staal, and Dmitry Orlov, which impacted their usual aggressive forechecking style. Despite outshooting Detroit 33-21, the Hurricanes couldn’t overcome their early deficit.
Coach Todd McLellan praised his team’s commitment to defense: “I don’t think a goaltender can beat that team alone, it has to be a team game. We made some mistakes and they made us pay, but we sold out, blocked shots, got some really good penalty killing and made some big saves.”
With the regular season winding down, this victory keeps Detroit’s playoff hopes alive, though they face a challenging path with several teams to overcome in the standings and few games remaining.
Photos: Tim Jarrold – In Play! magazine
