Late Svechnikov goal lifts Red Wings to win over Blackhawks

Photos by Michael Caples/MiHockey

By @StefanKubus –

DETROIT – The Red Wings collected their second preseason win in as many nights on Thursday.

A third-period marker from Evgeny Svechnikov proved to be the difference, as Detroit topped the Chicago Blackhawks, 4-2. Andreas Athanasiou, Thomas Vanek and Gustav Nyquist also scored for Detroit. Jonathan Bernier and Patrik Rybar split the night in goal for Detroit.

Vanek opened the scoring from the high slot, as he tipped home a shot-pass from Nyquist at the right point.

Early in the second period, a minor 2-on-1 down low in the Detroit zone led allowed Brandon Saad to slide a pass under the stick of Filip Hronek and over to Patrick Kane at the bottom of the right circle. Kane one-timed the feed past Bernier to even things up at one.

Not long after, a bad pinch by Wings defenseman Joe Hicketts led to a Chicago 2-on-1 rush. Mackenzie Entwistle came down the left side and snapped a wrister over Bernier in the top shelf to give the Hawks a 2-1 advantage.

Just past the period’s halfway mark, Athanasiou potted his first of the preseason. Nyquist fed Athanasiou as the two entered the Chicago zone. Athanasiou broke down the right side and drove across the net to tuck the puck past goaltender Kevin Lankinen.

With both teams tied entering the final frame, it was Svechnikov who broke the stalemate late in the final frame. Givani Smith fed Svechnikov across the slot for a one-timer that beat Lankinen and gave the Wings the 3-2 lead. Libor Sulak drew an assist for his second of the game.

Nyquist added an empty-net marker with 44 seconds on the clock to cap off the scoring.

Stay tuned for more from Little Caesars Arena…