Joe Veleno has two goals to lead Detroit Red Wings past Ottawa Senators 5-2
Alex DeBrincat didn't anticipate being welcomed back with open arms by Ottawa Senators fans Saturday afternoon.
The Detroit Red Wings forward got exactly what he was expecting.
Senators fans gave DeBrincat the gears, routinely showering him with loud boos. But that didn't stop Detroit from earning a 5-2 win over Ottawa.
- The information you need to know, sent directly to you: Download the CTV News App
- Sign up now for our nightly CTV News Ottawa newsletter
The contest was DeBrincat's first in the Canadian capital since being dealt to Detroit this summer. The hometown gathering of 18, 834 made sure to let DeBrincat know it wasn't impressed that he didn't want to be a part of the Senators moving forward.
"It's pretty much what I expected," said DeBrincat. "I think it is what it is.
"You try to, you know, zone it out and just play the game. We're happy we came up with the win and it's a tough team to play on the road ... it's a big two points for us."
Joe Veleno scored twice while Dylan Larkin added a goal and two assists for Detroit (4-1), on a four-game win streak after dropping its season opener to New Jersey. Shayne Gostisbehere and David Perron also scored while Ville Husso was solid in goal, stopping 35 shots.
Jake Sanderson and Ridly Greig scored for Ottawa (3-2-0), which had its three-game win streak snapped. Joonas Korpisalo made 18 saves.
While many want to portray DeBrincat, who spent just one season in Ottawa, as the villain, the reality is the 25-year-old never thought he had a long-term future with the Senators. He's thrilled to have the opportunity to play in his hometown team.
"They have a great team in there," he said. "But you know, I'm happy with where I am.
"I know they're going to be good for quite a long time so it's going to be a lot of battles between us."
DeBrincat had no points but was on the ice for all three of Detroit's power-play goals. The Red Wings were 3-for-5 with the man advantage, while Ottawa was 1-for-6.
"Definitely not the effort we want, ever," said Ottawa captain Brady Tkachuk. "I don't think that will happen again.
"We're in the same boat, but they just showed that they're better than us today. That's frustrating, disappointing and we're just going to have to learn from it."
Ottawa outshot Detroit 14-3 in the first period but the two teams were tied 1-1, each scoring on the power play.
Sanderson opened the scoring, converting a nice pass from Tkachuk. But with less than two minutes remaining, Larkin found Gostisbehere in the slot to make it 1-1.
Detroit made the most of its opportunities in the second to take a 3-1 lead.
Veleno made it 2-1 on a nice Christian Fischer drop pass. Detroit followed with its second power-play goal when Perron took the puck off his skate and still got enough on his shot despite Erik Brannstrom being on him in close.
Korpisalo took some of the blame for that but he didn't get much support on this night.
"They scored on almost every chance they got there," said Korpisalo. "They were on the (power play) quite a bit. ... I've got to provide the team with more saves."
But Ottawa head coach D.J. Smith his team also must be more disciplined.
"They're not great penalties; they're stick penalties, they're some lazy penalties," he said. "We did such a good job the previous two games in staying out of the box and (Saturday) it killed us."
Detroit put the game away with two goals within the first seven minutes of the third.
The Red Wings registered their third power-play goal just 28 seconds in when Larkin scored. Then Veleno recorded his second of the game on a great pass from Daniel Sprong.
"It was obviously two great players that made two awesome plays for me," said Veleno. "You know, I was happy I was able to be in the right spot at the right time and essentially just keep working hard."
Greig got his first of the season when his shot bounced in off Husso's blocker. But he was more concerned with his team's poor played.
"Both our power play and penalty kill need to be better, I'll leave it at that," said Greig. "The discipline in our game has probably got to be better.
"Lazy penalties can cost our team quite a bit."
INTERESTING FACT OR STAT
Detroit's win was its first in Ottawa since Feb, 2, 2019.
NOTES: Artem Zub was unable to play for the Senators after taking a puck or stick to the face Wednesday against Washington. Defenceman Jacob Bernard-Docker was recalled from AHL Belleville. Detroit's Jonatan Berggren was recalled from AHL Grand Rapids under emergency conditions and Robby Fabbri went on injured reserve retroactive to Oct. 12. Fabbri is expected to miss a month with a lower-body injury.
UP NEXT: The Senators will host the Buffalo Sabres on Tuesday night. Detroit is home to the Calgary Flames on Sunday.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 21, 2023.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
First standardized housing designs coming in December, but won't be permit-ready until 'early 2025'
The first iteration of the federal government's standardized pre-approved design catalogue – a revival of a wartime housing effort – will be unveiled in December, CTV News has learned.
He told his mother there was 'no way' he'd meet someone in Australia. Then he fell in love at first sight
Mike Grossman was adamant he wasn’t going to fall for anyone in Australia.
'Headspin hole': Man develops scalp tumor after decades of breakdancing
Researchers in Denmark have published a case report revealing an unexpected consequence of one of breakdancing's most iconic moves: the headspin.
Economists predict inflation dipped below 2% in September
Economists expect inflation continued its downward trend last month, giving the Bank of Canada the all-clear to continue cutting its benchmark interest rate.
Severe weather has some snowbirds leaving Florida, others battening down the hatches
When Julie Riddell and her husband, Gerry, bought their Fort Myers, Fla., vacation property in 2009, it didn't cross their mind that they might be buying in a hurricane-prone area.
A state divided: Wisconsin's political polarization fracturing families, friendships
Mary Herrick has lived in Washington County, just outside of Milwaukee, for 50 years but during a recent lunch with a close friend there was an uncomfortable moment: Herrick said she was going to vote for U.S. Vice-President Kamala Harris and her friend said she would be voting for former president Donald Trump.
Colored Hockey League of the Maritimes receives history-making recognition
Canada's only all-black hockey league in the country's history has received long-awaited national recognition.
Indian politician known for his close ties with Bollywood is killed in Mumbai
A senior politician in India’s financial capital, Mumbai, who was also known for his close ties with Bollywood has been shot dead weeks before a key state election.
‘I’ll make sure you live forever': Bill Vigars, the publicist responsible for promoting Terry Fox’s Marathon of Hope passes away
Vigars passed away peacefully in a B.C. hospital earlier this week. He was 78.