'Great offense tonight': Wings score season-high eight goals, win sixth straight game

Detroit — The playoffs aren't here yet for the Red Wings but with each passing game it's becoming to feel like it.

The importance increases each game, as the standings get tighter and the games simply feel more intense and vital. It's as if there's a sprint to the finish line.

There's still a bit to go, 23 games after Tuesday's 8-3 victory over Washington, the eight goals a season-high for the Wings and the most Washington has allowed in a season. But the Wings are looking ready for whatever the future holds.

"It's been a couple of weeks now that we've had the same mentality of taking advantage of these types of games," forward Joe Veleno said. "We'll find ourselves down the stretch in this position, we'll be playing teams chasing us, or right ahead of us. All these games matter and against some teams especially, which are behind us, it gives us an extra chip in our shoulder.

"When we're coming into play, and you can see the last few games we've had some pretty good starts of late, every game is important down the stretch here."

BOX SCORE: Red Wings 8, Capitals 3

Tuesday's win was the Wings' sixth consecutive victory — the longest since general manager Steve Yzerman took over in 2019 — and further widened the gap between themselves, in the top wild-card spot in the Eastern Conference, and the teams below the cutoff line, Washington being one of them. The Wings now lead Washington by nine points.

The Wings are now only two points behind Toronto for third place in the Atlantic Division and an automatic seed into the playoffs.

The Wings have won 16 of their last 22 games (16-4-2) and are establishing themselves as one of the dangerous teams in the NHL right now.

Capitals coach Spencer Carbery was impressed watching the Wings control every aspect against his Capitals.

"Right from the start you could see the talent through their lineup and through their roster and the plays they make," Carberry said. "With the finish they had, it was on full display.

"They're as good as any team in the National Hockey League."

Shayne Gostisbehere had two Wings goals (he now has nine), and Lucas Raymond (17th), Veleno (11th) and J.T. Compher (15th, shorthanded), Robby Fabbri (15th, power play), Alex DeBrincat (23rd) and Dylan Larkin (26th) supplied the offense, while goaltender Alex Lyon stopped 18 shots. David Perron and Patrick Kane both had two assists, Kane stretching his point-streak to nine games (five goals, nine assists, 14 points).

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"Great offense tonight," coach Derek Lalonde said. "We got ourselves a little bit in trouble there in the second period, but this was a big night for our offense."

The Wings are 18-8-5 at Little Caesars Arena, establishing a concerted home-ice advantage.

"It's our focus," Lalonde said. "Any team that wants to stay above that (playoff) line and be in that battle late in the season, you have to win your home games. We've always put an emphasis on it, even last year we had a winning record at home, which was a positive. Guys have done a good job with it and we need these (home victories) because we have some tough, tough assignments on the road."

The Wings took a 2-0 lead after one period Tuesday, forcing Washington to play from behind early.

Gostisbehere scored his first of the night, and eighth of the season, at 5:45, whistling a shot from the circle past goaltender Charlie Lindgren. Raymond pushed the lead to 2-0 at 16:20. Raymond skated into open ice through the slot, and cleanly beat Lindgren.

"I liked the energy," Lalonde said. "We got rewarded with some offense. But we come out (early) and you just like the energy. We had the jump and the challenge for us is to do it again."

For a player like Veleno who has been through some of the recent losing Wings' seasons, this push up the standings late in the season is refreshing.

"It definitely feels a lot better when you're in this position," Veleno said. "I love playing hockey and love being part of winning teams and I have always been for the most part in my (junior years). I love playing in these kids of games and being in big moments. It's just a whole lot of fun and anyone can tell you that on our team.

"When we're in this position and we're hot and climbing (the standings) it's real fun to be part of."

This victory also provided Lalonde with at least a sliver of revenge on Carberrry. When the two coaches were in the ECHL Eastern Conference Finals in 2015, Carberry's South Carolina team defeated Lalonde's Toledo team 1-0 in a Game 7 triple overtime - after South Carolina had won the first three games, and Toledo rallied with three consecutive victories.

"That hurt a lot," Lalonde said. "To this day, and I'm sitting here with two Stanley Cup rings (won in Tampa) and that was one of the most memorable series I've ever been in.

"I don't hold against anything Spencer. He's been a good friend of mine for a long time. It's just pretty cool not many people go through that path and we're two of them. We both played Division-3 ice hockey and both head coaches on every level on the way up and we're both now here in the NHL. That's pretty darn cool."

tkulfan@detroitnews.com

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