By Mike Whitaker
DETROIT – Detroit Red Wings fans got to gather at Little Caesars Arena one last time this season, and the team made sure to send them home happy.
In the final home game of the 2024-25 campaign, the Red Wings bested the Dallas Stars 6-4. Lucas Raymond scored and added two assists, becoming the first Red Wings player since Henrik Zetterberg in 2016-17 to register 50+ assists.
To be included in the same company as Zetterberg, not only as a top Red Wings player but as a fellow Swede, is something Raymond admitted was fun.
“Yeah I mean, obviously it’s fun,” Raymond said. “I feel like that’s a big part of my game that impacts the game in a positive way. You look at all the stuff that Henrik accomplished, it’s very impressive and to be mentioned with that is a lot of fun.”
“But for me, it’s just about focusing on me and trying to develop my all-around game and keep taking steps.”
Detroit also got goals from Alex DeBrincat (team-leading 37th), Albert Johansson, Jonatan Berggren, Moritz Seider (PPG), and Vladimir Tarasenko (empty net).
The Red Wings will have to wait another season to make their long-awaited first appearance in the Stanley Cup Playoffs since 2016, meaning that the team as a whole fell short of their goal coming into the campaign.
“”We had a clear goal coming into this season, how close we were last year,” Raymond said. “The only next step we could take was to make the playoffs and we were very determined to get there. We weren’t able to do it and we know that and it’s about looking at ourselves and figuring out what we need to do as a team to take that next step.”
Detroit’s victory in their final home game until the exhibition schedule in September meant a lot to the players in being able to share a special moment with the fans one last time.
“Obviously, the season didn’t end the way we wanted it to, but to be able to get a win here on home ice in front of our fans means the world to us. It was a fun night, especially seeing them afterwards. It’s pretty special.”
The Red Wings will round out their regular season schedule with matchups against the New Jersey Devils and the Toronto Maple Leafs, both on the road.
