Detroit, MI
Detroit Red Wings: Bounce-back performance ‘speaks volumes’ about team’s resilience
Detroit Red Wings say victory over Leafs speaks volumes
Detroit Red Wings Patrick Kane, Lucas Raymond & Todd McLellan, Oct. 11, 2025 in Detroit.
It was a performance the Detroit Red Wings can take with them down the road, can use for inspiration when needed.
Their second outing of the season was in such contrast to their first, even when they fell behind in the first period. They go into Toronto on Monday, Oct 13, to play the Maple Leafs for the second time in three days having just demonstrated how to be successful.
“I think it speaks volumes of the group with kind of just what we went through the past couple of days,” said Patrick Kane after contributing a goal and two assists in Saturday’s 6-3 victory.
The past couple days saw the Wings play embarrassingly poorly in their opener, get called out for it by their coach, and challenged to do better. So they did: Even when the Leafs went up 2-0, the Wings stuck with their game plan.
“To bounce back, you know, being down 2-0 and come out a second being up 3-2 is an ideal situation for us,” Kane said. “I know it’s two games into the season, but we prove we can, you know, turn the corner when we face that adversity.”
There was so much to like beyond the much-needed boost of confidence the Wings needed: Marco Kasper scoring midway through the second period, igniting the offense. A late penalty kill that segued into the Leafs pulling their goalie and the Wings facing six skaters the last couple minutes. The play of the rookies: Emmitt Finnie earning his first NHL point; Michael Brandsegg-Nygård holding onto the puck in high traffic, Axel Sandin Pellikka making plays with the puck. Lucas Raymond scoring twice to reach 100 career NHL goals.
And: Not exposing Cam Talbot to the odd-man rushes that chased John Gibson in the 5-1 loss to the Montreal Canadiens.
“We didn’t give up that bushel full of outnumbered rushes,” coach Todd McLellan said. “I think there was one real clear one, but the goaltender made the save. So that was a real good sign.
“I thought we were a lot more resilient. Obviously going down 2-0 and them scoring on the first shot on goal was not part of the plan. At that point we’d given up seven straight goals. So you talk about being mentally tough, we didn’t roll over. We dug in a little bit more, so that’s a real good sign for us. I just thought we played with more pop and more energy.”
Two games certainly don’t define a season, but for a team that’s come up just short in the playoff standings the last couple seasons, beating a divisional rival means something.
“We’ve been in situations a couple years in a row now where it’s come down to the end, where the margins are very thin,” Raymond said. “It’s about getting off to a good start putting ourselves in a good position and getting good habits. We’ve got all the tools in this locker room and around us to be a really good hockey team.”
A crucial moment came at 14:56 of the third period, when Jonatan Berggren was called for holding. Talbot helped out with two saves as the penalty killers came through with a huge stretch.
“You don’t want to put that team on the power play, especially when you’re 200 feet away from your net,” McLellan said. “It just makes no sense. So give the penalty killers and Talbs credit for getting us through that.
“And the extension of the penalty kill was the 6-on-5. They basically played the last four minutes, four of the last five minutes on the power play. I thought we did a real good job of holding our own there. Big task for us.”
It was a performance that can be replicated, and one that did just what was needed: Distance the Wings from their opening night dud.
“I believe they were all, you know, to a man, really disappointed in what transpired the other night,” McLellan said. “Now they got rewarded for fixing it and for doing the work. We’ve got to bottle that type of game up and continue on with it.”
Contact Helene St. James at hstjames@freepress.com. Read more on the Detroit Red Wings and sign up for our Red Wings newsletter.
A Metro Detroit church is giving back to the youth. In an age of heightened peer pressures, such as teen takeovers, leaders tell CBS News Detroit that good old-fashioned fun is the way to bring all ages together.
“It’s been a vision of mine and my late husband forever,” said Divine Restoration Ministries Pastor Dr. Tenisia Evans.
Divine Restoration Ministries hosted a Legacy in Action Day on Saturday in the gym of Eastpointe High School in Eastpointe, Michigan. The church says its focus is showing up for communities, especially the future generation.
“So many things going on in the world right now and the youth has been the center of our focus,” said Evans.
Evans says with the help of other church leaders and businesses, including AT&T, they were able to secure food, games and experiences for kids of all ages.
And when it comes to creating an event kids would actually like, Detroit teen Martrail Mullen says they were spot on.
“Kids, we like to move around and still have cardio, and while still having fun at my age, most churches don’t do that,” said Mullen.
Mullen says he has been invited to teen takeovers in the past. While he says he’s never gone to one, he wishes kids would use their time more wisely.
“Kids my age, they are doing a lot of things,” said Mullen.
That’s why Evans says now is the time they open their arms to anyone in need of support.
“We’re here. We’re here for you and we want to pour back and let you know that if you need anything, come to us and we will be here as a resource,” said Evans.
Troy Melton allowed one hit in six innings and the Detroit Tigers’ offense came alive late in a 4-1 victory over the Chicago White Sox on Saturday.
Dillon Dingler had two hits, including a home run, and drove in two runs as Detroit won its second straight game after losing four of five.
Melton (4-0) gave up a homer to Sam Antonacci on his second pitch of the game but allowed only four more baserunners — on three walks and a hit batter. He struck out five while allowing two or fewer runs for the fourth time in five starts this season.
Two Tigers relievers finished, with Kenley Jansen pitching the ninth for his ninth save.
Sean Newcomb started Chicago’s bullpen game with three perfect innings, but Tyler Davis walked the bases loaded with two out in the fourth. Joe Rock came out of the White Sox bullpen and struck out pinch-hitter Jahmai Jones to loud boos from the Comerica Park crowd.
With a runner on first and two out in the fifth, Kevin McGonigle got Detroit’s first hit of the game — the first hit for either team since Antonacci’s leadoff homer.
Dillon Dingler followed with an RBI single off Rock (0-1) to tie the game.
Detroit took the lead in the sixth when Spencer Torkelson doubled and scored on James Outman’s single. Jake Rogers made it 3-1 later in the inning with an RBI single.
Chicago didn’t get its second hit until Braden Montgomery doubled off Tyler Holton with one out in the seventh.
Dingler hit his 17th homer in the seventh, giving Detroit a 4-1 lead.
Up next
The teams finish the series Sunday in what was originally scheduled to be Justin Verlander’s first start as a Tigers player in Detroit since 2017. His hamstring strain means RHP Keider Montero (3-5, 3.67) will come back from the bullpen to face RHP Davis Martin (9-3, 3.31).
Today is Saturday, June 20, the 171st day of 2026. There are 194 days left in the year.
Today in history:
On June 20, 1943, race-related rioting erupted in Detroit; federal troops were sent in by President Franklin D. Roosevelt to quell the violence that resulted in more than 30 deaths.
Also on this date:
In 1782, the Continental Congress approved the Great Seal of the United States, featuring the emblem of the bald eagle.
In 1837, Queen Victoria acceded to the British throne following the death of her uncle, King William IV.
In 1893, a jury in New Bedford, Massachusetts, found Lizzie Borden not guilty of the ax murders of her father and stepmother.
In 1947, gangster Benjamin “Bugsy” Siegel was shot dead at the Beverly Hills, California, home of his girlfriend, Virginia Hill, likely at the order of mob associates.
In 1967, boxer Muhammad Ali was convicted in Houston of violating Selective Service laws by refusing to be drafted and was sentenced to five years in prison. (Ali’s conviction would ultimately be overturned by the U.S. Supreme Court).
In 1972, three days after the arrest of the Watergate burglars, President Richard Nixon met at the White House with his chief of staff, H.R. Haldeman; the secretly made tape recording of this meeting ended up with a notorious 18 1/2-minute gap.
In 2002, in Atkins v. Virginia, the Supreme Court ruled 6-3 that executing people with intellectual disabilities qualified as cruel and unusual punishment and was therefore in violation of the Eighth Amendment.
In 2025, a powerful tornado tore across southeastern North Dakota with winds topping 200 mph (322 kph) and an EF5 category, the strongest classification for a tornado and the first of that strength confirmed on U.S. soil in a dozen years. The tornado killed three people and heavily damaged a regional airport.
Today’s Birthdays:
- Filmmaker Stephen Frears is 85.
- Singer Anne Murray is 81.
- TV personality Bob Vila is 80.
- Musician Lionel Richie is 77.
- Actor John Goodman is 74.
- Rock bassist Michael Anthony (Van Halen) is 72.
- Rock bassist John Taylor (Duran Duran) is 66.
- Actor Nicole Kidman is 59.
- Filmmaker Robert Rodriguez is 58.
- Actor Josh Lucas is 55.
- Actor Christopher Mintz-Plasse is 37.
- Actor Kayla Maisonet is 27.
- Actor David Iacono is 24.
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