Recap: Raymond's first career hat trick leads Red Wings past Chicago, 6-3

CHICAGO --With 13 minutes remaining and Detroit clinging to a three-goal lead, Red Wings fans threw their hats onto the United Center ice to celebrate the latest milestone of their budding rookie standout.
Lucas Raymond recorded his first career hat trick in leading the Red Wings to a 6-3 win over the host Chicago Blackhawks Sunday night, securing Detroit's first road victory of the 2021-22 season. Raymond scored in all three periods, bolstering what was a dominant effort from Detroit's top line. Tyler Bertuzzi added a goal and two assists, while captain Dylan Larkin tallied three assists.

Carter Rowney also scored his first goal of the season, and Vladislav Namestnikov collected his third. Goalie Alex Nedeljkovic made 32 saves to secure his first win of the season.

According to Bally Sports Detroit, Raymond became the first Detroit skater age 19 or younger to score a hat trick since former captain and current Executive Vice President and General Manager Steve Yzerman on April 30, 1985.
"It was fun, for sure," Raymond said. "First to get the bounce back win after a tough night last night, and of course to score my first career hat trick. It was for sure a special night."

Red Wings coach Jeff Blashill continues to be pleased with Raymond's complete game, and how quickly he has meshed with Bertuzzi and Larkin along the Red Wings' top line.
"It's a complete game, I think he does it right at both ends of the ice," Blashill said. "I think the line's a good line. They've got different pieces. Larks has that energy, can win puck battles. Tyler does a lot of everything, wins puck battles, is hard at the net, has skill to make plays and Lucas is a real smart player, good defensively and is in position to make offensive plays.
"Obviously the line was good from a production standpoint, but I don't think they were alone. I thought it was a good team effort."

Detroit will look to wrap up its three-game road swing with a winning record when it travels to the nation's capital to face the Washington Capitals on Wednesday night.
Raymond gave Detroit the early lead, scoring at the 14:10 mark of the first period. Streaking down the middle of the ice in front of the defense, Raymond received a pass in stride from Bertuzzi, and five-holed a shot past Chicago goalie Marc-André Fleury.

Chicago's Tyler Johnson made a great individual effort to tie the game, 1-1, with 7:25 remaining in frame. Battling Red Wings defenseman Danny DeKeyser for possession all the way to the cage, Johnson pushed the puck past Nedeljkovic while falling to the ice.
Less than five minutes into the second period (15:38), the Red Wings reclaimed the lead (2-1) after Rowney scored his first goal of the season. He gathered the puck at the blue line, and set up a give-and-go with Michael Rasmussen, who flipped the puck toward the goal. It ricocheted off to the left side, where Rowney's backhanded rebound found the back of the net.
Detroit extended its lead to two goals, 3-1, with 12:27 remaining in the second period. Filip Zadina fed the puck to Mitchell Stephens near Fleury's right side, and Stephens' shot was rebounded home by Namestnikov.

The Red Wings kept the momentum going, scoring again at the 10:41 mark. Larkin aggressively wrapped the puck around at the cage, which bounced in front of the crease off Bertuzzi's right skate, then off Tyler Johnson's left skate and into the back of the net. Bertuzzi was credited with the goal, pushing Detroit's lead to 4-1. The goal was reviewed by the officiating crew, but ultimately upheld. It marked Bertuzzi's sixth goal of the season.
Chicago sliced its deficit in half, 4-2, with 7:50 remaining in the second period. The chance was set up from several passes outside the circles, with Seth Jones eventually teeing up Dominik Kubalik for the one-timer that got past Nedeljkovic.
The Red Wings went up 5-2 with just 59.2 seconds remaining in the lively second frame. Bertuzzi centered a pass to an attacking Larkin, whose ensuing shot was rebounded home by Raymond. Detroit took the three-goal lead into the dressing room at the intermission following a scuffle between both teams at the horn.

Chicago quickly pulled back within two, 5-3, at the 18:02 mark of the third period. Henrik Borgstrom won a puck battle with Gustav Lindstrom in front of the net, and slid the puck over the goal line.
Raymond clinched the hat trick at exactly the 13:00 mark, seconds after the power play started. Moritz Seider and Larkin set up the play for Raymond, which was a one-time slap shot from near the left faceoff dot.Nedeljkovic made several key saves to protect Detroit's lead in the third period, including fending off a 5-on-3 advantage.
"The third period was excellent for him (Nedeljkovic)," Blashill said. "I think anytime you go to a new team - I don't care who they are - I've had guys that have been veteran players in this league - and they go to a new team, you wanna get comfortable, you wanna gain confidence, and certainly a period like he had in the third can really help him. I thought he was excellent in the third, I thought he did a great job, and hopefully he can build off it."
Wednesday's puck drop from Capital One Arena is set for 7 p.m. The Capitals will travel to the Ottawa Senators on Monday night.