Detroit Red Wings rookie Lucas Raymond's first hat trick leads to 6-3 win in Chicago

CHICAGO — Lucas Raymond continued his impressive rookie season, delivering a four-point performance for the Detroit Red Wings.

Raymond became the first Wings player aged 19 or younger to score a hat trick since Steve Yzerman on April 30, 1985. Raymond, who was drafted by Yzerman, also set up a goal by Tyler Bertuzzi as the Wings topped the Chicago Blackhawks, 6-3, Sunday at United Center.

It was only the sixth game of Raymond’s career. He has four goals and three assists in that span.

It was a productive night for multiple players as the Wings (3-2-2) nipped a two-game losing streak. Bertuzzi returned to the lineup after being unable to play Saturday at Montreal – a 6-1 loss – because his refusal to get the COVID-19 vaccine prevents him from traveling under current border regulations. How much difference he makes was evident right away, when he set up Raymond’s goal. Bertuzzi finished with a goal and two assists.

Dylan Larkin had three assists and Stephen Mitchell had two.

Alex Nedeljkovic made a clutch save on Alex DeBrincat with about nine minutes to go, shortly after the Wings successfully challenged interference on Jonathan Toews’ goal.

Impressive

Raymond scored his first goal when he got a pass from Bertuzzi and beat Marc-Andre Fleury five-hole to give the Wings the lead and quiet a raucous home crowd. Raymond also assisted on Bertuzzi’s goal, and scored again in the second period when Raymond drove to the net and stuffed the puck. Raymond scored on a slap shot during a power play in the third period to restore a three-goal lead.

Typical

Only Bertuzzi could have gotten credit for the goal that made it 4-2 midway through the second period. Dylan Larkin came around the back of the net and swung the puck into the paint. It hit Bertuzzi’s skate, and he appeared to kick it towards the goal line. But the puck sent off Seth Jones and then Reese Johnson before sliding over the goal line. Officials reviewed it automatically, but there was no doubt it should stand. Bertuzzi has a knack for scoring around the net, and for scoring without taking a shot.

Obligatory

Tyler Johnson has made a career out of scoring on the Wings, taking his knack with him from Tampa Bay to Chicago. He inflicted his damage in the first period when he took a long pass from Jonathan Toews and powered to the net, pushing off Danny DeKeyser to score at 12:35. It was Johnson’s ninth career goal and 21st point in 35 career games against the Wings.

Needless

Officials assessed Kubalik a double-minor for high-sticking Michael Rasmussen at 13:04. It should have been an opportune stretch for the Wings to regain momentum after Johnson’s goal. But Larkin was called for holding the stick of Connor Murphy at 13:37, and Robby Fabbri was called for slashing Seth Jones at 14:49, putting the Wings shorthanded. The Wings ended up with just 33 seconds of man-advantage time, instead of the four minutes they could have had.

Contact Helene St. James at hstjames@freepress.com. Follow her on Twitter @helenestjames. Read more on the Detroit Red Wings and sign up for our Red Wings newsletter. Her book, The Big 50: The Detroit Red Wings is available from Amazon, Barnes & Noble and Triumph Books. Personalized copies available via her e-mail.

This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Detroit Red Wings beat Chicago, 6-3; Lucas Raymond hat trick