Detroit Red Wings score three goals in first period with major win against Ottawa Senators

The Detroit Red Wings made their coach's line changes look brilliant. Todd McLellan shuffled his forward lines before Monday night's game against Ottawa, and his team responded with three first-period goals in a 5-3 victory that pushed them back into first place in the Eastern Conference.

James van Riemsdyk recorded a goal and two assists for his second multi-point game of the season, while John Gibson turned aside 35 shots to backstop the victory. The Red Wings improved to 25-15-4 with 54 points, reaching the 25-win mark in just 44 games for the fastest pace since the 2011-12 season.

Detroit Red Wings climb back on top of Atlantic Division after recent win

Van Riemsdyk explained that McLellan's decision to shuffle the lines sent a clear message to the group. "Anytime the coach kind of shuffles up the lines a good amount like that, he's probably just trying to get the team's attention," he said.

He continued, "We had guys contributing all over the place tonight, and that's what it takes to win." The Red Wings came out flying in the opening period, scoring three times in the first 19:43 to put Ottawa in a deep hole. Andrew Copp opened the scoring at 7:06 with a breakaway goal after stealing the puck in the neutral zone.

Dylan Larkin added a power-play goal at 13:51 for his 22nd of the season, tying Nicklas Lidstrom for 11th place on the franchise's all-time goals list with 264. Van Riemsdyk capped the first-period surge with a goal at 19:43, spinning around in the right face-off circle and snapping a shot that deflected off Nick Jensen past Leevi Merilainen.

The Ottawa goaltender was pulled after allowing three goals on eight shots, with Hunter Shepard entering in relief. Gibson was especially good in the opening stretch with 17 saves within the period to keep Detroit’s three-goal lead intact.

Michael Rasmussen praised his goaltender's performance after the game. "He's been awesome for us," Rasmussen said. "MVP for us tonight." Ottawa made things interesting in the second and third periods. But the Senators didn’t take the loss lying down.

The duo of Claude Giroux and Dylan Cozens quickly scored to cut the deficit to 3-2 before Lucas Raymond restored the two-goal lead with his 12th of the season at 15:42 of the second period. Brady Tkachuk, meanwhile, quickly scored in the third period to make the scoreline 4-3 early on.

But Rasmussen scored a crucial short-handed goal at 12:53 to give the Red Wings breathing room. The penalty kill finished 5-for-6 on the night, continuing their strong recent play. The victory demonstrated the Red Wings responding exactly as McLellan had hoped when he made his line changes, with contributions coming from throughout the lineup in a complete team effort.

Also Read: “I didn’t expect it”: Brady Tkachuk finally reacts to Logan Stanley’s controversial punch in Senators game against Jets


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