Red Wings lose to Devils, eliminated from playoffs
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. More: Recap: Red Wings officially eliminated with 5-3 loss to Devils BOX SCORE: Devils 5, Red Wings 3 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. It’s PB&J Showtime!
pic. twitter. com/gzmMDyYGWm — New Jersey Devils (@NJDevils) April 11, 2026 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.