The curtain came down on the Detroit Red Wings’ 2024–25 home campaign with a 6–4 victory over the playoff-bound Dallas Stars on Monday night. In front of a loyal Little Caesars Arena crowd on “Fan Appreciation Night,” Detroit mounted a spirited third-period comeback, scoring three times in under eight minutes to transform a 3–2 deficit into a triumphant and symbolic win.
While the match lacked the stakes of the postseason for either side—Detroit officially eliminated and Dallas locked into their playoff berth—it carried significance for different reasons. For the Red Wings, it was about pride, performance, and redemption in front of their fans. For the Stars, it was a chance to rest key players and preserve fitness for a run that truly begins next week.
Despite being billed as Game 80 for Detroit and 81 for Dallas, this matchup had all the feel of a ceremonial ending for one team and a prelude for the other.
Third Period Magic in the Motor City
The Stars held a 3–2 lead entering the third period, thanks to steady scoring from across their forward lines. But Detroit had other ideas. Jonatan Berggren levelled the score before Moritz Seider converted on a power play, and Lucas Raymond iced the run with a silky steal and finish to put the Wings up 5–3. Though Dallas pulled one back via Wyatt Johnston, an empty-net goal from Vladimir Tarasenko sealed the 6–4 victory for the home side.
Raymond’s standout performance, with a goal and two assists, brought his season tally to 78 points and underlined the promise that still simmers beneath Detroit’s frustration. “How close we were last year, the only next step we could take was being in the playoffs,” said Raymond after the game. “Obviously we weren’t able to do it, and we know that.”
It’s been another campaign of unmet expectations in Hockeytown. There were hot streaks, cold spells, and even a coaching change, but ultimately, Detroit ended up in the same place: outside the playoff picture, looking in.
A Tale of Two Teams
Dallas, meanwhile, took a more relaxed approach to proceedings. Head coach Pete DeBoer opted to rest top defencemen Esa Lindell and Thomas Harley, looking ahead to the post-season. The result was a game that showcased depth players rather than stars like Jason Robertson or Joe Pavelski taking centre stage.
But Detroit, with nothing left to lose, played with the energy and freedom of a team rediscovering itself—if only for one night.
Assistant coach Trent Yawney stood in for Todd McLellan postgame and reinforced that the message remained consistent despite the team’s elimination. “It’s been about habits,” Yawney explained. “About playing the right way and not losing some of the good things that we’ve had in our game.”
Still, the lingering frustration for the Red Wings organisation and fanbase is familiar: another season ending in April. Detroit’s last playoff appearance dates back to 2015–16, and despite the team’s commitment to change and progress, the springtime slump has once again defined their season.
America Bet Recap: Betting Tips That Hit the Mark
From a betting perspective, America Bet’s match preview offered sharp insight for punters. The predicted 3–2 win for Detroit undershot the final scoreline but was right on the money about the home team’s motivation and the likelihood of a Dallas rotation.
Several betting tips landed or came close:
Red Wings to win – ✅ Hit
Marco Kasper Anytime Goal Scorer – ❌ Missed
Game Total Over 6.5 Goals – ✅ Hit (10 goals total)
Dallas Stars Under 3.5 Goals – ❌ Narrow miss (scored 4)
Detroit to score last – ✅ Hit (Tarasenko’s EN goal)
Red Wings to win by 1 goal – ❌ Missed (won by 2)
First Period: Draw – ❌ (Stars led 2–1)
Game to go to Overtime – ❌ Missed
Total Goals Odd – ✅ Hit (6–4 = 10 goals)
The successful picks—especially backing Detroit to win and the Over 6.5 goals market—provided a decent return for those who followed our advice. In matches like this, where motivation levels differ significantly, recognising team dynamics was key to finding betting value.
For a full breakdown of Monday’s matchday predictions across the NHL, fans can revisit our NHL Match Previews 14/04/25 article, featuring seven fixture analyses, score forecasts, and top 10 betting tips per game.
As the Red Wings prepare for yet another off-season without playoff hockey, questions about roster construction, consistency, and identity loom large. The win over Dallas was a reminder of what this team is capable of when the pieces fall into place. But for the Red Wings, the real challenge is translating nights like this into a full season’s worth of results.
For Dallas, the loss is unlikely to ruffle any feathers. They’ll look to return to full strength before beginning their playoff series against Colorado. For them, the season is just getting started.
But in Detroit, once a perennial playoff presence, the offseason begins again in April—a habit that now needs breaking more than any on-ice flaw.
