Michael Brandsegg-Nygård Heating Up For Red Wings

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The Detroit Red Wings have found success with a new-look line early in the 2026-27 NHL season, and that chemistry was on full display Tuesday night against the New Jersey Devils.

Their second line, featuring center Emmitt Finnie flanked by Alex DeBrincat and Michael Brandsegg-Nygård, factored into the scoring multiple times despite Detroit ultimately falling 5-4 in overtime at Little Caesars Arena.

Brandsegg-Nygård got things started later in the first period when he sent a cross-ice pass to a streaking Finnie. Finnie then beat Devils goaltender Jake Allen with a glove-side shot off the post to tie the game at 1-1.

Early in the second period, DeBrincat floated a pass from inside his own blue line that Finnie corralled to spring a two-on-one rush. Finnie fed Brandsegg-Nygård, who one-timed the puck past Allen for his second career NHL goal, looking every bit like a seasoned scorer in the process.

"It was a good work by Cat to get it out there, and me and Finn blew out the zone; we had a two-on-one there," Brandsegg-Nygård said in the dressing room afterward. "It was good of Finnie to get the pass over and for me to get it in." 

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"It's grown a lot, it's been pretty easy playing with those two," Finnie said of playing with Brandsegg-Nygård and DeBrincat. "They make lots of plays for me."

It was only a few days ago that head coach Todd McLellan said he felt it was only a matter of time before Brandsegg-Nygård, whom he has repeatedly described as "bullying" his way to the net, started finding the back of it.

In his last three games, Brandsegg-Nygård has scored twice while adding two assists.

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