Red Wings close out year with 2-1 victory over Jets

Ted Kulfan, The Detroit News on Dec 31, 2025

Published in Hockey

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DETROIT — The Red Wings closed out 2025 like they've done for most of the last three months — with a victory.

Before a festive New Year's Eve crowd Wednesday, which is usually the case in this annual tradition, the Wings defeated Winnipeg, 2-1.

Dylan Larkin (power play) and Mason Appleton scored first-period goals, and goaltender John Gibson stopped 24 shots.

The Wings (24-14-3, 51 points) moved back into first place in the Atlantic Division and are tied with Carolina for most points in the Eastern Conference.

Winnipeg's Logan Stanley sliced the Wings' lead to 2-1 at 7:04 of the third period, Stanley's seventh goal on a feed from Jonathan Toews.

But the Wings killed Winnipeg's third power play of the game almost two minutes later, and Gibson preserved the victory down the stretch. Gibson made a big stop on former Wing Gustav Nyquist with under two minutes left, in the slot.

Larkin scored his 21st goal at 8 minutes 22 seconds, on the power play. Larkin took a pass from Moritz Seider and beat goaltender Connor Hellebuyck (Commerce) from above the hashmarks.

The Wings pushed the lead to 2-0 when Appleton scored against his former team. J.T. Compher found Appleton, who had eluded the Jets defense, and Appleton lifted a shot that bounced off Hellebuyck and a defenseman, into the net, Appleton's fifth goal at 14:48.

The Wings play Thursday in Pittsburgh in another back-to-back set of games.