Red Wings' John Gibson gets real on 'important' Flames win amid playoff race

Detroit goalie discusses the significance of his team's victory over Calgary as they battle for a postseason berth.

Mar. 17, 2026 at 4:41am

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Detroit Red Wings goaltender John Gibson spoke about the importance of his team's 5-2 win over the Calgary Flames on Monday night. The victory was crucial for the Red Wings, who have dealt with a rash of injuries lately, as they fight to secure a playoff spot in the Eastern Conference. Gibson made 25 saves, while forwards Alex DeBrincat and Patrick Kane combined for five points to lead Detroit to the crucial home win.

Why it matters

The Red Wings are in a tight playoff race in the Eastern Conference, and this win over the Flames helped them move into the top Wild Card spot, one point ahead of the Boston Bruins. With key injuries to players like Dylan Larkin and Andrew Copp, the Red Wings needed a strong performance to keep pace in the postseason hunt.

The details

After allowing the opening goal, the Red Wings took control of the game against the Flames. Goaltender John Gibson made 25 saves, while forwards Alex DeBrincat and Patrick Kane combined for five points, with Kane scoring two goals. Head coach Todd McLellan was pleased to see the team's top offensive players step up and get rewarded for their elevated play in recent games.

  • The Red Wings hosted the Calgary Flames on Monday, March 17, 2026.

The players

John Gibson

The Detroit Red Wings' starting goaltender, who made 25 saves in the team's 5-2 win over the Calgary Flames.

Alex DeBrincat

A forward for the Detroit Red Wings who recorded three assists in the team's victory over the Flames.

Patrick Kane

A forward for the Detroit Red Wings who scored two goals in the team's 5-2 win over the Flames.

Todd McLellan

The head coach of the Detroit Red Wings, who was pleased with the elevated play of DeBrincat and Kane in the team's important win.

Dylan Larkin

The captain of the Detroit Red Wings, who was sidelined with an injury at the time of the team's win over the Flames.

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What they’re saying

“At this time of the year, every game is important, so this was big. We need to start racking up some wins, so this was a good start.”

— John Gibson, Goaltender (NHL.com)

“It was good to see (Kane) and (DeBrincat) get rewarded for their elevated play. They've been doing it for five or six games now, and we are going to need it.”

— Todd McLellan, Head Coach (NHL.com)

What’s next

The Red Wings will host the Montreal Canadiens on Thursday, March 20, 2026, as they continue their push for a playoff spot.

The takeaway

This win was crucial for the Red Wings as they battle through injuries and fight to secure a postseason berth in the tight Eastern Conference playoff race. The team's top offensive players stepped up, and the victory helped Detroit move into the top Wild Card spot, setting up an important matchup with the Canadiens later this week.