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.

More: Lucas Raymond sparks Red Wings to comeback vs Maple Leafs, first victory of 2025-26 season

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.

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — The Detroit Lions have downgraded three of their six questionable players to out for Sunday Night Football in Kansas City.

Detroit will be without defensive back Avonte Maddox (hamstring), and offensive tackles Taylor Decker (shoulder) and Giovanni Manu (knee).

None of these updates is entirely surprising. But it highlights the depth challenges the Lions will have to fight through on the offensive line and in the secondary against the Chiefs.

Decker missed last week’s game with the Lions opting to focus on rest and the long haul. The starting left tackle underwent offseason shoulder surgery. He was back to end camp and in the starting lineup as expected, though. But the injury crept back up, and he practiced only once after the opener, continuing to play the next three games.

“He’s better,” Lions coach Dan Campbell said on Friday. “He’s getting better.”

Manu was in the starting lineup for the first time in his career in the 37-24 win over the Cincinnati Bengals. The 2024 fourth-round pick was in the mix to start again until a knee injury popped up on the injury report late in the week. Manu was limited on Thursday and then missed Friday’s practice.

The Lions signed Dan Skipper from their practice squad earlier this week. Skipper is the most likely option to start at left tackle, with Devin Cochran as a potential elevation from the practice squad.

Skipper has started 11 games over the last three years for the Lions. He’s been called on in these spots before, and it’s the reason why he’s found a new life with this franchise.

Dan Campbell said they thought about flipping Penei Sewell from right to left tackle. But the Lions coach finished that thought by saying, “That’s probably not the first thought, being honest with you.”

Maddox’s absence is a more crushing blow than it’s going to credit for. He was in line to boost the depth at safety and at slot cornerback, with Amik Robertson forced into the CB1 role. Robertson and veteran Rock Ya-Sin are likely the starting outside cornerbacks. It’s tougher to decipher what they’re going to do when they need a nickelback, though.

On the bright side, safeties Brian Branch and Kerby Joseph were not part of Saturday afternoon’s designation updates. Campbell said he feels optimistic about Branch’s chances of playing. And Joseph hasn’t missed a game despite dealing with knee issues dating back to training camp.

“But I don’t feel like this is some long-term thing by any means,” Campbell said of Branch on Friday.

“I feel like we’re going to get him to the game, I really do, but we’ll see. I can’t sit here and guarantee it either.”