McDavid Puts Up Six Assists in 8-4 Triumph Against Red Wings

Detroit Red Wings defenseman Moritz Seider was insightful and prophetic when he told Bally Sports analyst Mickey Redmond recently that Connor McDavid is the most challenging player he has faced during his young career.

The interview, recorded earlier, aired Tuesday as McDavid was putting up six assists to carry the Oilers to an 8-4 triumph against the Detroit Red Wings. It was the second time in McDavid’s career he posted six assists.

Seider was -4 in the game and McDavid stole the puck from him to set-up a goal for one of his assists.

“I think we were just giving too much time and space,” Detroit center Joe Veleno told Bally Sports. ” Obviously they got a lot of skill players out there. If we don’t manage the puck, if we don’t win our battles, if we let them have possession of the puck, then they got some players that can make plays. They’re a quick team in transition. They got a lot of speed and I thought we just let off our foot on the gas a little bit and they capitalized most of all of their opportunities that they had around the net.”

Connor McDavid of the @EdmontonOilers is the first NHL player to have 6+ assists in a game where his team didn't have a single power-play opportunity since Don Grosso did so for the Red Wings against the Rangers on February 3, 1944. pic.twitter.com/tkX4Bk1roN

— OptaSTATS (@OptaSTATS) February 14, 2024

Third Period Explosion

The Oilers scored five goals in the third as the Red Wings gave up eight goals to an opponent for the first time this season. They had given up six goals four times this season.

It was a disappointing start to a  four-game Western road trip that also includes games in Vancouver, Calgary and Seattle. The Red Wings, given how well they have been playing,  undoubtedly are hoping to earn six points on this trip

This is a Red Wings team that had given up three or fewer goals in 12 of their last 14 goals coming into the game.

“It’s going to be a very frustrating game to watch back because we did some good things,” Coach Derek Lalonde said. “We got to 3-3, probably had the majority of the play.”

The Red Wings scored a pair of power play goals, with Patrick Kane chipping in a goal and an assist, to tie the game 3-3 going into the third. But then Detroit’s defensive coverage was marked by lapses. The team gave up too many high danger scoring chances. Alex Lyon, who replaced the injured Ville Husso in the first period, wasn’t as sharp as he has been during Detroit’s January surge.

The loss is a reminder that the Red Wings’ hold on a playoff spot is tentative.

While the Red Wings were suffering one of their most difficult losses of the season, the New Jersey Devils, Tampa Bay Lightning and Toronto Maple Leafs were both winning. That leaves Detroit holding the last Eastern Conference wild card spot by a two-point lead over New Jersey. Toronto, holding the other wild card position, is two points ahead of Detroit. The Red Wings now trail third place Tampa Bay by three points for third place in the Atlantic Division.