'Total team effort': Red Wings, Gibson bounce back, blank Avalanche

Ted Kulfan, The Detroit News on Feb 3, 2026

Published in Hockey

By clicking submit, I authorize Arcamax and its affiliates to: (1) use, sell, and share my information for marketing purposes, including cross-context behavioral advertising, as described in our Privacy Policy , (2) add to information that I provide with other information like interests inferred from web page views, or data lawfully obtained from data brokers, such as past purchase or location data, or publicly available data, (3) contact me or enable others to contact me by email or other means with offers for different types of goods and services, and (4) retain my information while I am engaging with marketing messages that I receive and for a reasonable amount of time thereafter. I understand I can opt out at any time through an email that I receive, or by clicking here

Not many teams have been able to defeat the Colorado Avalanche this season, and particularly at Ball Arena.

The Red Wings did so Monday, earning a much-needed victory while ending an annoying winless streak, 2-0, over the Avalanche.

Marco Kasper scored 33 seconds into the game on a set up from Lucas Raymond, then Raymond added an empty-net goal with 30.7 seconds remaining, and goaltender John Gibson stopped 21 shots while earning his third shutout this season.

As ugly as Saturday's 5-0 loss to the Avalanche at Little Caesars Arena was, this was a total opposite for both teams.

"It was outstanding," said coach Todd McLellan of the Wings' team effort. "We had some legs, we were connected and made some passes. We defended well. Just about every everything that could be turned upside down (from Saturday) was.

"The leadership group, and the players, I give a lot of credit for responding."

McLellan and his staff met with players Sunday but decided to not go on the ice. The message was delivered, and the Wings looked re-energized Monday in Denver.

"We had a pretty direct meeting, and our group needed that," McLellan said. "Then we stayed off the ice, and as I said that night (Saturday) something wasn't right with our team. We looked lethargic, flat, whatever you want to call it. Maybe we needed a day. We took it, and pre-game skated (Monday) and we looked way fresher."

The Wings (33-18-6, 72 points) ended a three-game winless streak (0-2-1) and moved to within two points of idle Tampa Bay for the Atlantic Division lead. The Wings also ended an eight-game losing streak in Denver, not having a won game in Colorado since 2016. It was also the Wings' first regulation time victory over the Avalanche in a span of 16 games.

The NHL-leading Avalanche (36-9-9, 81 points) only lost their third game in regulation time at home this season (20-3-4).

"It was a really good team effort from top to bottom," Gibson said. "It was a total team effort. Everybody was committed to playing defense, offense, getting pucks deep and forecheck. It was probably one of the most complete games that I've been a part of this season."

The Wings continually frustrated the Avalanche, getting into shot lanes, breaking up passes, and rarely allowing a quality scoring chance. Clinging to a 1-0 lead heading into the third period, the Wings allowed Colorado's potent offense only nine shots and gave Gibson good looks at shots.

"We knew they were going to come (in the third period)," Gibson said. "They're a good team and they have a lot of skill guys and they'll have a push, especially in the third. But we put some pressure on ourselves and responded. Everybody did a great job."

The start was ideal for the Wings.

In the opening moments of the game, Colorado defenseman Devon Toews attempted to pinch from the point that didn't go well, and suddenly Raymond and Kasper went flying on a two-on-one down the ice.

Raymond kept the ice until delivering a clean pass to Kasper alone near the crease, Kasper easily tapping the puck past goalie Mackenzie Blackwood, who was committed to the other side. It was the sixth goal for Kasper, who also has seven points in this last nine games.

"It was important to get off to a good start, especially after the last couple of games where we haven't been our best," Kasper said. "We were talking a lot about getting off to a good start and not giving them too much respect. It was a great play by Lucas and all I had to do was put my stick down.

"All game we played well defensively and Gibby was unreal for us."

Both teams were 0-for-2 on the power play, the Wings' streak with a power-play goal now at 16 consecutive opportunities.

The Wings conclude this two-road trip, and play their final game before the Olympic break, Wednesday in Utah (9 p.m./FDSN/97.1).

It'll be interesting to see how many Wings fans will make the trek to Salt Lake City, given Monday's crowd at Ball Arena was as large a Wings' contingent in Denver as many people could remember.

"The fans can get into the game (in Denver) and we took them out of it real early and actually got some of the Red Wings' fans into it," McLellan said. "There was a heck of a lot of Wings fans here, which was nice."

________