RECAP: Zadina helps Detroit pick up "huge win" over Calgary, 2-1

DETROIT -- Playing in his first NHL game since suffering a lower-body injury on Nov. 5, Detroit Red Wings forward Filip Zadina registered just one shot on goal against the Calgary Flames on Thursday night at Little Caesars Arena.
And did he ever make it count.

Zadina scored what proved to be the game-winning goal at 5:51 of the third period in Detroit's 2-1 win over Calgary, helping the Red Wings secure their first victory following the 2023 NHL All-Star break.
"It felt pretty good," said Zadina, who recorded his first goal and point of the season. "Even better that I could help the team to win the game. It felt amazing."
A scoreless opening frame gave way during the second period, as the Flames struck first at 18:07 before Red Wings captain Dylan Larkin scored a power-play goal just 1:36 later to tie the game, 1-1. Goalie Ville Husso made 35 saves, including 15 in the third, helping Detroit preserve the win in a game that felt "almost like playoff intensity."
"It was a huge win for us," said Husso, who improved to 9-0-1 this season when making at least 32 saves in a game. "After the Edmonton game, which I think was a winnable game too, that got away from us. So, we came in and played hard for a full 60 minutes."
With the win, the Red Wings (22-20-8; 52 points) snapped a six-game losing streak against the Flames (24-18-10; 58 points).
"A complete effort," head coach Derek Lalonde said. "We got rewarded tonight."
NOTABLE: On Thursday night, Little Caesars Arena eclipsed 10 million fans in total attendance since the state-of-the-art facility's official opening on Sept. 12, 2017.
NEXT UP: Detroit will conclude its current three-game homestand on Saturday afternoon against the Vancouver Canucks. Saturday's matinee marks the first of two Love Your Melon Nights at Little Caesars Arena this season. Each ticket sold through this special package supports Love Your Melon's program to give a hat to every child battling cancer in America.

SCORING SUMMARY

Calgary 1, Detroit 0 (18:07, 2nd period)
The Flames opened the scoring when Noah Hanifin's long shot from the top left corner was deflected into the net by Blake Coleman.
Detroit 1, Calgary 1 (19:46, 2nd period)
Affter collecting Moritz Seider's pass at Detroit's blue line, David Perron brought the puck down into Calgary's zone and fed Larkin coming through the slot. Larkin got through multiple Flames defensemen and found the top corner on the power play, marking his team-leading 16th goal of the season.

Detroit 2, Calgary 1 (5:51, 3rd period)
From the left faceoff circle, Oskar Sundqvist sent a pass right back to Zadina on the other side as he buried it past Flames goaltender Dan Vladar. Robert Hagg, playing his first game since Dec. 8 after being sidelined due to an undisclosed injury, was also credited with an assist on Zadina's tally.

QUOTABLE

Lalonde on Zadina's return to the lineup
"Guys are pros. They work to get back. This one was different for Zadina. He worked extremely hard. He kept having little setbacks and he got what he deserved tonight."
Lalonde on Hagg's performance
"Good, very good...His shifts were very short, which is understandable. He did great."
Zadina on his road to recovery
"It's been a long time. I've been waiting for the chance to be on the ice with them, and it happened today. I went into the game thinking about playing the right way and trying to do something on the ice."
Husso on Zadina's goal
"It's unbelievable. You see him out for a long time and how hard he works...It's so nice for him."