3 major takeaways from Detroit Red Wings' 4-3 OT loss in preseason game vs Ottawa Senators

The Detroit Red Wings blew a 3-1 third-period lead to drop their penultimate preseason game 4-3 in OT to the Ottawa Senators on Friday.

The Red Wings started out on fire, scoring two goals in the opening frame from rookie sensation Marco Kasper. The Wings held on to the lead until the third when the Sens clawed their way back to tie the game at three and force overtime.

Vladimir Taraksenko scored the other Detroit Red Wings goal. Meanwhile, Noah Gregor had two goals for Ottawa, including the game-winning tally, with Donovan Sebrango and Adam Gaudette scoring the others.

So, let’s take a closer look at the three major takeaways from the Detroit Red Wings' loss to the Ottawa Senators from Friday night at the Little Caesar’s Arena.

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Three major takeaways from Detroit Red Wings' OT preseason loss to Ottawa Senators

#3 Marco Kasper was on fire

Kasper, the eighth overall pick from 2022, had a tremendous game. He scored two goals in the first period and nearly had a third. He opened the scoring early at 1:24 with a wicked snapshot and got his second on a wrister, which Sens goalie Anton Forsberg should have had.

However, Forsberg would deny Kasper the hat-trick by making a brilliant stop on a breakaway. Kasper got in between the Ottawa defense, taking a lead pass that almost beat Forsberg.

Overall, Kasper looks like he will be on the Wings’ Opening Night roster, given the way he has played throughout the preseason, but in particular on Friday night.

#2 The penalty kill was huge for Detroit

Despite the loss, the Detroit Red Wings’ penalty kill was outstanding. The penalty kill went 5-for-6, killing off a seven-minute Ottawa power play. The lengthy power play came in the first power play came on the heels of Austin Watson’s retaliation for a slash on top defenseman Moritz Seider.

Ottawa’s Jan Jenik hit Seider, leading to Watson attacking Jenik. Overall, Watson got a game misconduct, with Zack MacEwen of Ottawa also getting a game misconduct, while Jenik got a minor penalty for slashing.

The Detroit Red Wings’ penalty kill held the fort, eventually allowing the Sens' second goal of the game at 16:35 of the third. Still, the great work shorthanded allowed the Wings to stay in control of the game up until the late third period.

#1 The Red Wings ran out of gas

The Wings eventually blew their lead because they ran out of gas. The uptempo affair, including the extended Ottawa power play in the first, made it tough for Detroit to stay on top of their game. The Gregor power play marker in the third was a good example of that.

However, the tying marker by Sebrango and the eventual OT winner were unlucky bounces that just didn’t go Detroit’s way. But if the Wings had been less pressured in the third period, they could have held on to the win.

The Wings play their final preseason game against the Toronto Maple Leafs on Saturday night at the Scotiabank Arena.