Larkin's Leadership Through Player Safety Call Out Last night in Detroit, the Red Wings—powered by a Gordie Howe hat trick from Alex DeBrincat and a Lucas Raymond overtime winner—beat the Nashville Predators 6-5. Dec 29, 2023; Detroit, Michigan, USA; Detroit Red Wings left wing Lucas Raymond (23) celebrates his game winning shot during the an overtime period of the game between the Detroit Red Wings and the Nashville Predators at Little Caesars Arena. [https://thehockeynews.com/.image/c_fit,h_600,w_600/MjAzMjc2ODY4NDY2NTE3MTc0/usatsi_22193032.jpg] Dec 29, 2023; Detroit, Michigan, USA; Detroit Red Wings left wing Lucas Raymond (23) celebrates his game winning shot during the an overtime period of the game between the Detroit Red Wings and the Nashville Predators at Little Caesars Arena. Detroit trailed 3-2 late in the third, when DeBrincat dropped the gloves with Predators captain and standout defenseman Roman Josi. DeBrincat proceeded to score midway through the third to tie the game, then provide the primary assist on a Jake Walman go-ahead goal two minutes later. However, former Red Wing Gustav Nyquist brought the game back to level terms barely a minute later, and the game proceeded to overtime deadlocked at four. In the extra session, Lucas Raymond finished off the game with a blistering shot from the high slot, wired over the blocker of Juuse Saros. Here's what Raymond, Walman, and Derek Lalonde had to say after the game: LUCAS RAYMOND On overtime: "I feel like it's about creating space. Play with the puck as much as possible. I think that's probably the biggest key, and then just trying to get looks. I came around once and didn't really like it, so then you just try to possess the puck until you get an opportunity." On whether this felt like a "must-win" game: "I wouldn't say must-win. Big win for us. We haven't been playing the way we've been wanting to these last couple of games, this last stretch. We know what we're capable of, and we showed it for 25-something games. I think for us, it's just about [getting] back to that, start playing winning hockey, and today was definitely a step in the right direction. Still things we want to work on but [a] step in the right direction." On impact of depth scoring: "I think that's one of our biggest strengths as a team—the depth we have. We have a lot of really good players and a lot of players that can move up and down the lineup. I feel like we played really good tonight, and I've obviously played with Dylan [Larkin] a lot, and it definitely makes it harder for them to coach against. I'd say that's one of our biggest strengths—to be able to move guys up and down the lineup and have that kind of depth." JAKE WALMAN On the result: "It was fun. Definitely needed that win, battled a lot of adversity in the game, and unreal to come out with a win." On the back and forth nature of the game: "It's gonna happen, stuff like that. Games aren't gonna be easy. You gotta expect some sort of adversity at some point. It's good. I think we're ready for it. We're ready for that type of challenge." On the crowd: "You can really feel it on the bench. We know we got it in the room, but to have the support from the fans too—that was one of the loudest rinks I've heard this year. It was great to see the fans show up for us, and I'm happy we can send them home with a win." DEREK LALONDE On result: "Well, we needed it for sure. It's a good step. Love the fact that we found a way to get two full points when trailing going into the third, obviously doesn't happen a lot in our league. Still some things we need to grow on. It's disappointing: Our first 32 minutes and the last eight minutes of the second where it was kind of our identity of late, where we put together some pretty good hockey, pretty responsible hockey, and then those last eight minutes we give them two freebies, and all of a sudden we're trailing going into the third. I give our guys credit—especially the way things have been going lately—to compete and find a way in the third. A positive, but we still need to take some steps here." On where there still needs to be improvement: "D zone I thought was better for sure, some better tracking, but again it just finds us. The odd poor pinch or attacking the rush for an odd-man. We're still working through some things, but really good on the guys to find a way to get two full points. And that's a really good team. You look at their last 20, 25 games, you take away their first 10, 12 games, they're arguably one of the best teams in the league, and you can see why." On Alex Lyon in net (31 saves on 34 shots in his first game since December 16th): "Great, confident. He has a poise about him. Puck handles were great. Compete was really good, can't fault him on any of the goals. A real quality win for him." On Alex DeBrincat: "That's him. He's been phenomenal. Through this recent stretch of some losing, he's been really good. His underlying numbers have been excellent. We've asked him and the group to improve in some D zone habits. He came off a year last year where he was -30 on a team that was well over .500, and he's done that, and I'm glad he's been rewarded with some offense. He's been excellent. He changed that game for sure...Compete, character, always has a smile, very competitive, well liked in the room. You appreciate the player, his ability to finish, but he's got passion, and he wants this to keep going in the right direction. Really impressed with him as a human." 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