Red Wings sink Sharks on Dylan Larkin's game-winning goal

Ted Kulfan, The Detroit News on Jan 16, 2026

Published in Hockey

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DETROIT — The Red Wings have been consistent, and fair to say consistently good, since Thanksgiving.

They continued an impressive statistic that has its origin that weekend, Friday defeating San Jose, 4-2.

With the victory, the Wings still have not lost two consecutive games in regulation time since a three-game losing streak from Nov. 24-28 (they earned one point in an overtime loss during that streak).

Since the start of December, the Wings are a staggering 16-5-2.

Dylan Larkin's 24th goal early in the third period snapped a 2-2 tie. Larkin jammed a loose puck near the post that Sharks goalie Yaroslav Askarov couldn't control, giving the Wings the lead at 4 minutes, 41 seconds.

The Wings killed San Jose's only power play of the game midway through the period, and goaltender John Gibson (19 saves) stopped William Eklund racing in down the slot to preserve the lead.

Marco Kasper's fourth goal, an empty-netter, clinched the outcome.

Alex DeBrincat (power play, 25th goal) and J.T. Compher (sixth goal) had the other Wings goals.

Compher tied the game 2-2, converting a nice feed from Kasper, who jumped on a turnover along the boards. Kasper skated down wing and fed Compher, all alone, across the slot at 6:55.

Colin Graf gave the Sharks a 2-1 lead early in the second period. Former Wings defenseman Nick Leddy centered a pass to the hashmarks and Graf raced and got his stick on it, poking the puck past Gibson at 1:58 for his 14th goal.

DeBrincat opened the game's scoring with his power-play goal at 6:18 of the first period. Lucas Raymond fed DeBrincat, wide open near the hashmarks, and DeBrincat had most of the net to shoot at, with Askarov committed to the other side.

But Smith tied it 2-2 at 9:54. Gibson couldn't control Macklin Celebrini's shot, and the puck popped behind Gibson. Smith raced to the crease and pushed the puck in for his 13th goal.