Detroit — NHL teams like to see young players make an impact in these exhibition games and the Red Wings are seeing some of that.
Thursday against Chicago, it was Evgeny Svechnikov with the tie-breaking goal in the third period — on an assist from another big forward, Givani Smith — giving the Wings a 4-2 victory over the Chicago Blackhawks.
Chicago didn’t have close to its regular roster, but did have Jonathan Toews, Patrick Kane (who scored a goal), Alex DeBrincat (Farmington Hills) and Brandon Saad, so there was some offensive firepower.
Thomas Vanek (power play), Andreas Athanasiou and Gustav Nyquist (empty net) had Wings goals.