Penguins close out year with loss to Red Wings

The Pittsburgh Penguins closed out the 2024 calendar year with a 4-2 loss to the Detroit Red Wings at Little Caesars Arena in Detroit.

Forward Drew O’Connor – who entered the game with a hideous 32-game streak without a goal – accounted for each of the Penguins’ scores.

Red Wings forward Jonatan Berggren opened the scoring with his fifth goal this season 7:52 into regulation.

From Detroit’s right circle, Penguins forward Anthony Beauvillier had a shot or a pass attempt blocked by Red Wings defenseman Justin Holl. Settling the rebound, Red Wings forward J.T. Compher claimed the puck in the slot and backhanded a pass to the right circle for linemate Vladimir Tarsenko. Carefully turning to his right, Tarsenko sent a stretch pass to the center red line for Berggren who had a step on Penguins defensemen P.O Joseph and Marcus Pettersson. Attacking on a breakaway, Berggren elevated a wrister past goaltender Alex Nedeljkovic’s glove. Tarasenko and Compher had assists.

Detroit goal!

Scored by Jonatan Berggren with 12:08 remaining in the 1st period.

Assisted by Vladimir Tarasenko and J.T. Compher.

Detroit: 1
Pittsburgh: 0#PITvsDET #LGRW #LetsGoPens pic.twitter.com/L7ryuu12Kc

— NHL Goals (@nhl_goal_bot) January 1, 2025

O’Connor’s fourth goal came at 18:29 of the first period.

After O’Connor hounded Red Wings forward Alex DeBrincat into a turnover in Detroit’s high slot, Penguins forward Cody Glass made a handful of determined dekes to keep the puck away from Red Wings defenseman Jeff Petry and forward Patrick Kane on the left half-wall. Emerging out of that crowd, Glass slid a pass to the lower right circle where O’Connor leaned down and fired a one-timer by the left skate of outstretched goaltender Alex Lyon. It was O’Connor’s first goal since a 4-1 home loss to the Carolina Hurricanes on Oct. 18. The lone assist was generated by Glass.

JUST WHAT THE DOC ORDERED THIS NYE ???? pic.twitter.com/QSPfKny9NT

— Pittsburgh Penguins (@penguins) January 1, 2025

“(Glass) made a really good play, creating the turnover then getting around their guy,” O’Connor said to reporters in Detroit via audio provided by the team’s media relations staff. “I tried to just get open there for the one-timer. He did a good job holding onto it and waiting for the lane to open up.”

Kane reclaimed a lead by scoring his seventh goal during a power-play sequence 3:41 into the second period.

Settling a loose puck in the Penguins’ left circle, DeBrincat tapped a forehand pass to the top of the left circle. Accepting the offering, Kane had a few moments to pick his shot and selected a wrister that found an avenue between the near post and Nedeljkovic’s glove before clunking off the back post. DeBrincat and forward Lucas Raymond registered assists.

Patrick Kane puts one past Nedeljkovic on the power play ???? pic.twitter.com/r17r4PFmqw

— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) January 1, 2025

O’Connor struck again with a power-play goal at 3:18 of the third period.

From above Detroit’s right circle, Penguins forward Sidney Crosby played hot potato with the puck before sending it back to Penguins defenseman Erik Karlsson who clapped from the high slot. Lyon made the initial save but couldn’t corral the rebound. O’Connor was stationed above the crease and knocked to the ice by Holl. Despite that, O’Connor maintained focus on the puck and took three backhand shot attempts before the final one slipped past Lyon’s left skate. Assists went to Karlsson and Crosby.

Power play goal for Pittsburgh!

Scored by Drew O'Connor with 16:42 remaining in the 3rd period.

Assisted by Erik Karlsson and Sidney Crosby.

Detroit: 2
Pittsburgh: 2#PITvsDET #LGRW #LetsGoPens pic.twitter.com/BxkkQ3qNrx

— NHL Goals (@nhl_goal_bot) January 1, 2025

Compher put the hosts back in front with his fifth goal during a power-play opportunity at 14:26 of the third frame.

Berggren slid a forehand pass from the top of the Penguins’ left circle to the center point where Red Wings defenseman Erik Gustafsson stroked a one-timer. The puck clanked off the left post and then deflected into Nedeljkovic’s right shoulder. As Nedeljkovic fell back and reached to cover the puck, Compher slipped in from the left of the cage to backhand the rebound into the net. Assists belonged to Gustafsson and Berggren.

Power play goal for Detroit!

Scored by J.T. Compher with 05:34 remaining in the 3rd period.

Assisted by Erik Gustafsson and Jonatan Berggren.

Detroit: 3
Pittsburgh: 2#PITvsDET #LGRW #LetsGoPens pic.twitter.com/jjUIpUi5Ma

— NHL Goals (@nhl_goal_bot) January 1, 2025

Red Wings forward Dylan Larkin capped the scoring with his 13th goal on an empty net at 19:45 of the final period. Raymond and linemate Joe Veleno had assists.

Empty net goal for Detroit!

Scored by Dylan Larkin with 00:14 remaining in the 3rd period.

Assisted by Lucas Raymond and Joe Veleno.

Detroit: 4
Pittsburgh: 2#PITvsDET #LGRW #LetsGoPens pic.twitter.com/1YXtJqBmaB

— NHL Goals (@nhl_goal_bot) January 1, 2025

Nedeljkovic’s record slipped to 6-6-3 after he stopped 21 of 24 shots.

“If I can make a way to make that first save, keep us in it … maybe that’s the difference right there,” Nedeljkovic said. “I wasn’t too happy with that one.”

Notes:

• Pettersson returned to the lineup after missing six games due to an undisclosed injury. He was activated from injured reserve earlier in the day.

• Penguins defenseman Kris Letang missed his second consecutive game due to an undisclosed ailment. He was placed on injured reserve earlier in the day.

• Penguins forwards Kevin Hayes and Jesse Puljujarvi as well as defenseman Nate Clurman were healthy scratches.

• In 38 career games against the Red Wings, Crosby has 48 points (18 goals, 30 assists).

• In 34 career games against the Red Wings, Karlsson has 36 points (nine goals, 27 assists).

• Red Wings coach Todd McLellan – hired to that position on Friday – recorded his 600th career win (600-413-134).

• In 27 career games against the Penguins, Kane has 32 points (nine goals, 23 assists).

• In 25 career games against the Penguins, Larkin has 26 points (nine goals, 17 assists).

• In 16 career games against the Penguins, DeBrincat has 18 points (seven goals, 11 assists).

• In 12 career games against the Penguins, Raymond has 15 points (five goals, 10 assists).