Detroit Red Wings vs Ottawa Senators Game Review: January 18, 2026

Detroit Red Wings 4, Ottawa Senators 3 (OT): A Thrilling Overtime Victory at Little Caesars Arena

The Detroit Red Wings extended their impressive recent run with a dramatic 4-3 overtime victory over the Ottawa Senators on Sunday, January 18, 2026, at Little Caesars Arena in front of 19,515 passionate fans. The win marked Detroit’s sixth victory in their last seven games (6-1-0), keeping them firmly in playoff contention with a 30-16-4 record.

The Game-Winning Moment

Alex DeBrincat proved to be the hero of the night, scoring just 36 seconds into overtime to seal the victory for the Red Wings. After retrieving a loose puck, DeBrincat and linemate Andrew Copp executed a textbook 2-on-1 rush, exchanging passes before DeBrincat unleashed a wrist shot from the left circle that beat Senators goaltender James Reimer. “That’s a huge two points for us,” DeBrincat said after the game. “We didn’t have a great start, but we fought back to keep this run going.”

Standout Performances

Alex DeBrincat (DET) – Named the game’s first star, DeBrincat finished with a goal and an assist, bringing his season total to 26 goals and 27 assists.

John Gibson (DET) – The Red Wings goaltender was phenomenal, making 19 saves to win his sixth consecutive start. Gibson has been on fire since early December, posting an incredible 15-2-0 record with three shutouts since December 2.

Drake Batherson (OTT) – The second star of the game, Batherson tallied a goal and an assist, opening the scoring at 4:26 of the first period by knocking in a rebound after Gibson made back-to-back saves.

Andrew Copp (DET) – Copp was instrumental in the victory with two assists, including the setup on DeBrincat’s overtime winner.

Patrick Kane (DET) – The legendary American forward recorded an assist, bringing his career point total to 1,372 (500 goals, 872 assists), moving him within just two points of Mike Modano (1,374) for the most points by a U.S.-born player in NHL history.

James Reimer (OTT) – In his season debut after signing with Ottawa just two days earlier, the veteran goaltender made 30 saves in a strong performance. His last NHL game had been nearly nine months prior with Buffalo.

Game Flow and Key Moments

First Period – Ottawa’s Lightning Start

The Senators came out flying despite playing on back-to-back nights, having arrived in Detroit at 2 a.m. after an overtime loss to Montreal the previous evening. Batherson opened the scoring at 4:26, and just 39 seconds later, Dylan Cozens capitalized on a power play (assisted by Brady Tkachuk and Batherson) to give Ottawa a stunning 2-0 lead at 5:05.

However, Detroit responded quickly. Rookie defenseman Axel Sandin-Pellikka fired home a power-play goal from the point through traffic at 7:16, cutting the deficit to 2-1 and giving his team life. Red Wings coach Todd McLellan noted, “We obviously weren’t happy with our start. Getting that power-play goal quickly was big for us. We settled down and started playing after that.”

Second Period – Back-and-Forth Battle

The middle frame saw four goals scored in a thrilling display of offensive hockey. Lucas Raymond tied the game 2-2 at 6:06, beating Reimer through a Jake Sanderson screen with an assist from Marco Kasper.

James van Riemsdyk, the third star of the game, put Detroit ahead 3-2 at 16:53 with a highlight-reel power-play goal. In a chaotic scramble in front of the net, van Riemsdyk pulled the puck between his own legs to shield it from Reimer before lifting it over the goaltender’s pads. “There was some chaos in front, and my job is to find a way to get the puck into the net,” van Riemsdyk explained. “[Reimer] was trying to poke the puck away from me, so I was looking for a way to shield the puck and get enough room to put it over his pads.”

Ottawa refused to go away quietly. Shane Pinto tied the game 3-3 at 19:05 with a power-play goal, redirecting Claude Giroux’s pass in front with just 55 seconds remaining in the period.

Third Period and Overtime

The third period featured tight defensive play from both teams, with neither side able to break through. “The third period was just back and forth without anything much happening,” Senators coach Travis Green observed. “Anything can happen in overtime. We got a 2-on-1 and didn’t score, then they got one and did.”

That’s exactly what happened, as DeBrincat’s heroics 36 seconds into the extra frame secured the two points for Detroit.

Statistical Breakdown

The Red Wings dominated the shot count, outshooting Ottawa 34-22. However, the Senators won 59.3% of the faceoffs and delivered more hits (24-19). Special teams played a crucial role, with both teams scoring two power-play goals each. Detroit went 2-for-4 on the power play, while Ottawa converted 2-of-5 opportunities.

Notable Context

Reimer’s Remarkable Return: James Reimer’s season debut was particularly noteworthy. After signing with the Senators on Friday, the veteran goaltender stepped into action just two days later in a back-to-back situation. Despite the loss, his 30-save performance was encouraging. “It’s fun to play. This is the greatest game on Earth,” Reimer said. “I felt good. I was getting to my reads and seeing the puck pretty well. It would have been nice to get two points, but this is a good building block.”

Detroit’s Impressive Run: The Red Wings improved to 21-0-2 when scoring at least four goals this season, showcasing their ability to close out high-scoring games. Gibson’s remarkable stretch since early December has been a major factor in their success.

Ottawa’s Resilience: Despite playing on exhausted legs, the Senators earned a valuable point and extended their point streak to four games. Travis Green praised his team’s effort: “That was a hard-fought point. We got in at 2 [a.m.] and played at 5 [p.m.] against a really good team. I liked a lot of our game.”

The Bigger Picture

This victory keeps the Red Wings’ playoff hopes alive as they continue one of the most impressive stretches of their season. With DeBrincat finding his scoring touch, Gibson playing at an elite level, and Patrick Kane closing in on a historic milestone, Detroit has multiple storylines propelling them forward.

For Ottawa, the point gained on the road in a difficult back-to-back scenario could prove valuable as the season progresses. Batherson’s continued offensive production (now with 19 goals and 25 assists) gives the Senators a reliable scoring threat.

The game showcased everything fans love about hockey: early drama, clutch special teams play, outstanding goaltending, and a thrilling overtime finish that had the Little Caesars Arena crowd on their feet celebrating another Red Wings victory.

Photos: Glenn Gervais – In Play! magazine