PREVIEW: Detroit, Winnipeg set to square off in Sunday matinee

DETROIT – Hoping to build on the defensive performance in their 2026-27 season opener while converting more of their scoring chances, the Detroit Red Wings will host the Winnipeg Jets at Little Caesars Arena on Sunday afternoon.

“There are a lot of areas of (Friday night’s) game that we can take with us,” Lucas Raymond said. “If we can keep doing that over 83 more games, I think we’ll be in a really good spot.”

Puck drop between Detroit (0-1-0; 0 points) and Winnipeg (0-0-1; 1 point) is set for 1 p.m. ET, with broadcast coverage on Detroit SportsNet and the Red Wings Radio Network (97.1 The Ticket in Detroit). Sunday’s matinee also marks the debut of Red Wings coverage on DSN, and more information on cable/satellite providers and in-market streaming can be found here.

As part of Raymond’s next-day assessment of the Red Wings’ opener, a 2-0 shutout loss to the visiting New York Rangers in which they fell behind in the first period but tightened up as the night went on, the 24-year-old forward stated the key to more offense starts with sustained pressure.

“We didn’t give them a lot, but we got to find ways to score,” Raymond said. “We got to find ways to maintain more O-zone time, and I think that starts with our forecheck – getting pucks to kind of stay in the O-zone, get longer shifts on them and create momentum like that. I think, even (on Friday), we had a lot of looks. It’s about executing as well.”

No matter if it's pretty or greasy, a goal goes into the scorebook all the same, and a greasy one could be just what sparks Detroit’s offense as the players – both returning and new – continue to feel out each other's playstyles and tendencies.

“We got to get traffic at the net for our (defensemen),” Raymond said. “Get a couple dirty ones and at the same time create plays. When we have the opportunity, we got to make the play. Don’t pass up opportunities, take it to the net. I feel like a lot of good stuff comes from that as well.”

Raymond and the Red Wings practiced at BELFOR Training Center inside Little Caesars Arena on Saturday morning but were without Marco Kasper (upper body). Per head coach Todd McLellan, Kasper won’t play against the Jets and will be re-evaluated in a few days.

To account for Kasper’s absence, McLellan slotted Emmitt Finnie between Viktor Arvidsson and Michael Brandsegg-Nygård – that trio formed Detroit’s second line - during Saturday’s practice.

“His pace and ability now with some experience to defend is good,” McLellan said of Finnie. “We’d like to see more offense through the center-ice position. Maybe he can provide some of that. We’re going to overwork (Andrew) Copp, (J.T.) Compher and (Nate Danielson) if we don’t get an extra center in there. Right now, we think he’s the best bet.”

Meanwhile, the Jets are coming off a 4-3 overtime loss to the Boston Bruins at Canada Life Centre on Friday night. It was the opener for Winnipeg, which finished 35-35-12 (82 points) last season and missed the Stanley Cup Playoffs after winning the Presidents’ Trophy in 2024-25.