Red Wings' Playoff Hopes Fade After Dismal First Period

Detroit falls behind 3-0 early in another loss, as their postseason chances continue to slip away.

Apr. 1, 2026 at 1:50am

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The Detroit Red Wings' playoff hopes took another hit as they fell behind 3-0 in the first period and ultimately lost 5-1 to the Pittsburgh Penguins on Tuesday night. This marked the second consecutive game the Wings spotted their opponent a three-goal lead in the opening frame, a troubling trend that has contributed to their recent struggles.

Why it matters

The Red Wings are running out of time to climb back into playoff position, as they've now dropped four of their last five games. Their inability to get off to strong starts has been a major factor in their slide, putting them in an early hole that they've been unable to overcome.

The details

Detroit goaltender John Gibson was pulled after the first period, having allowed three goals on 14 shots. The Penguins' goals came from Rickard Rakell, Anthony Mantha, and Egor Chinakhov. Red Wings captain Dylan Larkin scored the team's lone goal on the power play in the second period, but Pittsburgh's Noel Acciari restored the four-goal lead late in the game.

  • The Red Wings fell behind 3-0 in the first 20 minutes of the game.
  • Larkin scored his 30th goal of the season in the second period.
  • Acciari's goal for Pittsburgh came with 8 minutes left in the third period.

The players

John Gibson

The Red Wings' starting goaltender, who was pulled after the first period.

Dylan Larkin

The Red Wings' captain, who scored his 30th goal of the season in the second period.

Anthony Mantha

A former Red Wings first-round pick who is now thriving with the Penguins, scoring his 30th goal of the season.

Noel Acciari

The Penguins forward who scored a late goal to restore Pittsburgh's four-goal lead.

Rickard Rakell

The Penguins forward who opened the scoring in the first period.

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What they’re saying

“Obviously a big man with a very good set of hands in and around the net. That combination is dangerous when he's hot.”

— Todd McLellan, Red Wings coach

What’s next

The Red Wings will look to bounce back on Thursday when they visit the Philadelphia Flyers, another team fighting for a playoff spot in the Eastern Conference.

The takeaway

The Red Wings' inability to start games strong has become a troubling trend, putting them in early deficits that they've been unable to overcome. With their playoff hopes fading, they'll need to find a way to reverse this pattern if they want to keep their postseason dreams alive.