Red Wings lose to Devils, eliminated from playoffs

Ted Kulfan, The Detroit News on Apr 11, 2026

Published in Hockey

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DETROIT — For the 10th consecutive season, the Red Wings aren't going to the NHL playoffs.

Jesper Bratt scored his second goal of the game at 16 minutes, 26 seconds, giving New Jersey a 5-3 victory Saturday and sending the Wings home for the season.

Bratt scored on a feed from Jack Hughes on a 2-on-1 rush, shocking the fans at Little Caesars Arena.

Dawson Mercer scored into an empty net with 59.3 seconds remaining, clinching the outcome, igniting a chorus of boos at the end of the game.

Earning at least one point would have kept the Wings in the Eastern Conference playoff chase.

The Wings were 12 points clear of a playoff spot, among the Eastern Conference leaders, in late January, only to see the margin fritter away.

Emmitt Finnie scored at the 7-minute mark of the third period, snapping a 2-2 tie.

But Cody Glass scored his 19th goal on a backhander in front of the net, tying the game 3-3 at 11:18.

Justin Faulk and David Perron, the Wings' two acquisitions as the trade deadline, had the other Detroit goals.

Hughes and Jesper Bratt also scored for New Jersey.

Faulk opened the scoring with his 15th goal, fourth with the Wings, taking a feed from Dylan Larkin off the rush and beating goaltender Jake Allen from the dot at 9:41.

But the Devils answered 59 seconds later, with Hughes keeping the puck on a 2-on-1 rush and snapping a shot past goaltender John Gibson, Hughes' 27th goal, at 10:40.

The Wings regained the lead on Perron's 12th goal, second with the Wings, one-timing a pass from J.T. Compher past Allen at 11:59 of the second period.

But the Devils answered again, with Bratt scoring his 21st at 15:16 on a long shot from the slot that Gibson didn't see with bodies in front of him.