The Detroit News’s Ted Kulfan filed an evening notebook article which discusses Alex DeBrincat’s goal-scoring aplomb, noting that DeBrincat’s overtime winner against the Vancouver Canucks on Sunday was historic in nature:
DeBrincat reached the 50-goal mark as a Wings’ player in his 135th game. DeBrincat is the fastest to reach 50 goals with the Wings since Brett Hull did it in 130 games from 2001-03.
The winning goal was one DeBrincat has scored often in his career. On a rush, able to unleash an accurate and effective one-timer, and finding the right places on the ice to get prime scoring opportunities.
“Their guy got lost in our zone when we picked it up,” DeBrincat said of the game-winning goal in Vancouver. “I saw it was going to be a long 3-on-2 (rush), and Raymond was the late guy. I gave it to him and he made a great play back to me.”
Since becoming Wings’ coach, Todd McLellan has spoken glowingly about DeBrincat’s ability and instincts for the game. DeBrincat’s ability to be so effective net-front, making life difficult for opposing goalies, despite DeBrincat’s smaller size, was one area McLellan has been impressed with.
“You almost appreciate him more when you’re around him more,” McLellan said. “You see him shift after shift and there is more to his game than his shot and goals, which we all know him for. But the work he does in and around the blue paint, screens, his thought process on the power play, how he gets open, his shooting and competitiveness … I’m glad he’s on our team.
“It’s a skill (playing net-front) and he (DeBrincat) has been taught, somebody taught him how to move through the eyes and not just stand there, and we’re reaping the benefit of it now.”
Continued (paywall)
