Pius Suter netted the go-ahead goal halfway through the third period, propelling the Detroit Red Wings to a 5-3 victory over the New Jersey Devils on Friday night in the season finale for both teams.
Tyler Bertuzzi and Michael Rasmussen each contributed a goal and an assist, while Moritz Seider and Joe Veleno also found the back of the net for the Red Wings (32-40-10). Sam Gagner recorded two assists, and Magnus Hellberg made 23 saves.
With 9:27 left in the game, Suter’s decisive goal marked Detroit’s fourth lead of the night. Bertuzzi secured the win with an empty-net goal, his 30th of the season, with just 10 seconds remaining.
“I’m Happy for Bert(Uzzi) that he got his 30th. I’m happy for Magnus to step in and win a game after being with us. I thought that was great. Obviously, (Moritz) Seid(er) gets his 50th point,” Detroit coach Jeff Blashill said. Other than that, obviously, it’s way better to walk into the locker room after a win.”
Seider became the fifth rookie defenseman in the past 32 years to score 50 points. At 31, he made his Red Wings debut. Hellberg, who signed with Detroit from the KHL in mid-April, earned his first NHL win since 2017.
“I felt pretty good right off the bat there,” Hellberg said. “Obviously, it’s been a while since I played. I think it’s been two and a half months — but it was good. The guys played well in front of me. Let me see the pucks.”
For the Devils (27-46-9), Fabian Zetterlund recorded a goal and an assist, with Dawson Mercer and Nolan Foote scoring. Mackenzie Blackwood stopped 30 shots as the team ended the season on a six-game losing streak (0-4-2) and an eight-game home losing streak.
“I’m just disappointed, for sure. We really wanted to win that game,” Devils’ Nico Hischier said. “Right now, I’m just disappointed, and I think after a season like that, the fans deserve the last win at home. That’s all that mattered to me tonight, and we couldn’t do it, so it’s just disappointing.”
Veleno put Detroit ahead 3-2 just 54 seconds into the third period with his eighth goal of the season, but Zetterlund tied it for the third time six minutes later with his third goal.
Rasmussen scored at 1:08 of the first period with his 15th goal, giving Detroit an early lead.
Mercer equalized for the Devils late in the first period when Zetterlund set him up in front of the net, marking Mercer’s 17th goal.
Seider reclaimed the Red Wings’ lead with a wrist shot from the blue line at 6:30 of the second period, his seventh goal of the season.
Foote brought the Devils back level with his third goal 4:22 before the end of the second period.
