In Thursday night’s preseason game, Danielson, Berggren, and Shine scored for the Red Wings, despite ultimately losing 4-3 to the Toronto Maple Leafs in overtime. Head coach Derek Lalonde was impressed with the overall performance of the Detroit Red Wings in their final road game of the 2023-24 preseason.
Lalonde acknowledged the difficulty of evaluating exhibition games due to the varying talent levels in the lineups. He emphasized that these games serve different purposes for different players, with high-end skill players using them to fine-tune their skills. However, he praised the team’s competitive spirit in the game.
The Maple Leafs took an early 1-0 lead during a 4-on-4 situation in the first period. Nate Danielson, a Red Wings prospect, tied the game at 1-1 with a tip-in goal off Shayne Gostisbehere’s point shot. Jonatan Berggren then put the Red Wings ahead 2-1 on a power play, scoring his first preseason goal. The Maple Leafs equalized with a late first-period goal, briefly taking a one-goal lead in the second before Dominik Shine tied the game again at 3-3.
The game remained scoreless in the third period, and the Maple Leafs secured the victory in overtime at 1:34.
Goalie Alex Lyon, who signed a two-year contract with the Red Wings during the offseason, played the entire game and made 34 saves. Lalonde praised Lyon’s performance, highlighting his ability to make key saves and not concede soft goals.
Looking ahead, the Red Wings will conclude their 2023-24 preseason schedule with a game against the Maple Leafs at Little Caesars Arena on Saturday night.
In Lalonde’s words, the team has been gradually building and accomplishing things throughout training camp, with room for improvement. The regular season is set to begin in a week, and Lalonde expressed excitement about focusing on preparations for Game 1.
Berggren emphasized the team’s hard work and determination in facing a veteran-heavy Maple Leafs lineup, highlighting their commitment to battling for every puck and competing in every battle.
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