Wings rally in final seconds, beat Blue Jackets 4-3 on Kane's OT winner

Detroit — This was as big victory as the Red Wings have had in a long, long time.

And it might have just saved their season.

Trailing with just under 13 seconds left in regulation time to the lowly Columbus Blue Jackets, Lucas Raymond tied the game and then Patrick Kane won it in overtime, as the Wings rallied for a huge 4-3 overtime victory.

Kane scored his 15th goal, lifting a shot over goalie Danil Tarasov's shoulder 48 seconds into overtime. It was Kane's third game-winning overtime goal with the Wings.

"Just seeing the situation, at that point you're hoping they had the same three guys (on the ice) and you're hoping they're a little bit tired," Kane said. "I'm trying to get something to the net and I had a couple of options on the cross but I saw him (Tarasov) kind of cheat off the post."

The victory was only the Wings' second in the last 10 games but pushed them into playoff position and avoided a gut-wrenching loss.

"I liked the response from the group," Kane said. "That's a huge win for us. Hopefully it gives us some momentum and hopefully we can look back at this at some point and say it was a big turning point for our season."

Raymond scored his second goal of the game and 24th of the season, a career high, tying the game 3-3. With goaltender James Reimer pulled for an extra attacker, Raymond put back a rebound past Tarasov after Kane put a shot on net.

BOX SCORE: Red Wings 4, Blue Jackets 3 (OT)

"We drew up something like that, I was trying to get the puck to the net and Ray has been automatic from there in the middle," Kane said. "I told him if he keeps scoring from there he's going to have to play there his whole career, so he better be careful.

"There's 20 seconds left, I'm just trying to get a shot and create something."

To go from a costly defeat to back into playoff position was quite the rollercoaster in a matter of seconds for the Wings.

"A ton of emotions for sure," Raymond said. "The timing of it. Right now, we're chasing as a team and we'll take every point. Huge win for us. We'll try to build off it and keep it going."

Kirill Marchenko scored a power-play goal at 4 minutes ,26 seconds of the third period Tuesday, breaking a 2-2 tie.

With the victory, the Wings (35-28-6) have 76 points and moved into the second wildcard spot past idle Washington and three points over the New York Islanders, who lost to Carolina. The Islanders visit Little Caesars Arena Thursday.

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"So many emotional narratives this time of year," coach Derek Lalonde said. "You lose and it's a big narrative, but now we win and we've won two of our last three games and get over that (playoff) line again and separate ourselves a little bit with one of the teams we're chasing. It's huge.

"But it means nothing if we don't get a little more battle to start."

Raymond (power play) and Moritz Seider scored second-period goals, bringing the Wings back to even after a terrible first period. The Wings were outshot 20-6 and fell behind 2-0.

Columbus dominated the first period, while taking a 2-0 lead on goals from Zach Werenski (Grosse Pointe) and Alexandre Texier. The Wings were listless and the Jackets took complete advantage.

"I was flabbergasted, shocked, disappointed," Lalonde said. "I never thought with this group that it felt like they quit and I couldn't believe it. With how much adversity and comeback this group has shown this year, the two years since I've been here, and I couldn't believe it."And they didn't quit. Huge credit to the push back in the second and to hang in there and not to quit to the end and get the full two points."

The start did leave a stain on the overall victory.

"I appreciate the push back from the guys and it was a huge moment that our season is not over yet," Lalonde said. "But that first period was real and it happened and it's not good enough. We discussed it after the first and I give a lot of credit (to the players)."

Raymond scored his 23rd and sixth in five games (the game-tying goal was his seventh), one-timing a pass from Robby Fabbri in the slot to cut the lead to 2-1.

With the Wings in need of offense lately, Raymond has been the one constant.

"Consistency," said Lalonde, of what has been the difference in Raymond. "Going to the hard areas for both goals. His battle and compete, this time last year he was tiring. He wasn't all that good and we were worried how much we'd be able to play him down the stretch.

"Now, he's literally, with Dylan (Larkin) out, he's driven us to stay in this battle."

Goaltender James Reimer made 32 saves to earn the victory. It was a typical Reimer performance in that maybe he'd like the Marchenko goal back, but Reimer made big stops to keep the Wings within one goal.

Defenseman Simon Edvinsson, in his first game since being recalled Tuesday, played 18:36 on 22 shifts, was minus-1 and blocked two shots.

"He was real good," Lalonde said. "You could see the poise which makes him so special. For him to come in like that and play in the top-four, he did a real good job."

tkulfan@detroitnews.com

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