The Detroit Red Wings earned their first victory of the season with a 5-3 win against the Ottawa Senators on Tuesday at Little Caesars Arena. A four-goal surge spanning the first two periods pushed Detroit ahead for good.
Ottawa struck first 2:44 into the opening period when Tim Stützle beat Detroit goaltender John Gibson with a snap shot. Detroit answered just 32 seconds later as Alex DeBrincat scored his first goal of the season on a wrist shot at 3:16. Dylan Larkin then gave the Red Wings their first lead at 13:14 of the first period, converting a wrist shot off passes from Viktor Arvidsson and DeBrincat.
Detroit extended the advantage early in the second period with two quick tallies. Arvidsson scored on the power play at 2:01, followed by Justin Faulk's first goal of the season at 4:30 to make it 4-1. Drake Batherson cut into the deficit for the Senators with a power-play wrist shot at 6:08. William Eklund pulled Ottawa within a goal at 10:30 of the third period on a snap shot, but DeBrincat secured the win by sliding a power-play wrist shot into an empty net with 50 seconds remaining.
Gibson stopped 22 of 25 shots to earn the victory in net for the Red Wings. Samuel Ersson took the loss for Ottawa after making 31 saves on 35 shots. Detroit capitalized on special teams by scoring twice on five power-play chances and outshooting the Senators 36-25 overall, while Ottawa converted one of five opportunities on the man advantage.
The result moved Detroit to a 1-2-0 record on the season, while Ottawa dropped to 2-1-0. DeBrincat finished with two goals and an assist, and Lucas Raymond contributed three assists for the Red Wings.
Detroit next visits the Seattle Kraken on Tuesday, October 20. Ottawa returns to action on Wednesday, October 21, when it hosts the Florida Panthers.
