Kasper was the best story of Detroit’s second half last year, scoring 16 goals (and 28 points) over his final 41 games. More impressive: 27 of those points came at even strength, the most of any Red Wing in that span.

Detroit Red Wings goaltending prospect Rudy Guimond of the Moncton Wildcats was named goaltender of the month in the Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League.

Nate Danielson, a first-round pick from 2023, had seven points in 28 games with the Detroit Red Wings. He now joins the AHL's Grand Rapids Griffins.

Instead the Wings went up 1-0 when Andrew Coop stripped the puck off Tler Kleven at center ice and tore in on Ottawa's net and fired a wrist shot behind Leevi Meriläinen, the Senators 23-year-old backup goaltender who has carried the load (Monday was just his 27th career appearance) since Linus Ullmark took a leave of absence in December.

Veterans James van Riemsdyk and Andrew Copp are delivering after slow starts. Van Riemsdyk has 10 goals and 13 points in his past 18 games after producing just one goal and two points in his first 17 games. Copp has five goals and 14 points in his past 17 games, after collecting just one goal and nine points in 27 games.

Netting another goal for Detroit in the closing seconds of the opening frame, van Riemsdyk spun around in the right face-off circle and snapped one in off Nick Jensen that extended it to 3-0 at 19:43. Jacob Bernard-Docker and Albert Johansson assisted on van Riemsdyk’s 11th goal of the campaign.

It's been a dream first half for Detroit, as the Red Wings sit atop the Atlantic Division with 51 points after a 2-1 win over the Jets.