Rangers Beat Red Wings as Detroit Fans Voice Frustration

The Original Six matchup featured a pregame trade request controversy for Dylan Larkin, a physical second-period fight, and an empty-net insurance goal.

Sean Durzi Strikes Early as Rangers Capitalize on Fatigue

The New York Rangers arrived in Detroit playing their third game in four nights, while the Red Wings opened their 2026-27 season after a full week of rest. That scheduling mismatch quickly tilted the ice. Just 5:12 into the first period, Sean Durzi opened the scoring with a laser shot from the high slot on a power play, taking a feed from Gabe Perreault to record his first goal as a Ranger.

Detroit struggled to find its footing during a penalty-marbled opening frame. Head coach Todd McLellan noted that his squad was 100 percent back on their heels early on. The visitors controlled the territorial play before the home side began generating sustained pressure toward the end of the period.

Durzi nearly collected a second power-play point at 7:10 of the opening frame when his shot was deflected into the net by Oliver Bjorkstrand. However, a video review successfully challenged by the Red Wings confirmed the play was offside, wiping the goal and assist off the scoreboard.

Dylan Larkin Booed and Chants of Sell the Team Ring Out in Detroit

The atmosphere inside Little Caesars Arena carried heavy friction before the opening puck drop. Former captain Dylan Larkin, unavailable due to an upper-body injury and on injured reserve retroactive to August 15 following a trade request submitted after the previous season, stood on the bench in street clothes and was roundly booed by the crowd during pregame introductions. Larkin offered a brief wave in response.

The toxic environment gradually gave way to hockey as Detroit fought back into the contest.

“Dylan wanted to be out there for the ceremony, let’s make that clear. That’s what our team has done for 101 years now, is put the players out there and Dylan’s explanation was ‘I don’t want the rest of my teammates, the ones who aren’t dressed, to not be out there’. So, we went out as a team and that’s what we’re going to do as a team, we’re doing to do it as a team.”

Todd McLellan, Red Wings coach, via The Detroit News

Marco Kasper and Sean Durzi Ignite Physical Flames in the Second Period

The game turned combative midway through the second frame when Red Wings center Marco Kasper dropped the gloves with Durzi. Unlike a staged faceoff scrap, the two players came together naturally during the flow of play near the boards before trading a series of punches with neither backing down.

The physical confrontation electrified the Detroit bench and energized the crowd. Kasper, centering a heavy checking line alongside Michael Rasmussen and Keegan Kolesar, delivered meaningful minutes while filling a massive void down the middle in Larkin’s absence. The matchup also featured other lineup adjustments, including defenseman Anton Johansson making his NHL debut on a blue line featuring Moritz Seider, Ben Chiarot, Axel Sandin-Pellikka, Albert Johansson, and Justin Faulk.

Dylan Garand Secures 22-Save Shutout as Eeli Tolvanen Seals the Win

Despite outshooting New York 22-21 overall and holding a 20-15 edge through two periods behind 19 saves from John Gibson, Detroit’s offense stalled when it mattered most. The Red Wings managed only two shots in the third period and went 0-for-2 on the power play, unable to solve Rangers goaltender Dylan Garand.

With John Gibson pulled for an extra attacker, Eeli Tolvanen scored into the empty net with 1:16 remaining at 18:44 of the final period to finalize the 2-0 scoreline.

More on this story: Dylan Larkin Booed by Red Wings Fans After Trade Request