From first to worst: Jets start 2026 at 32nd overall after a 2-1 loss to the Red Wings
There were no changes to the Jets lineup tonight as they stuck with the combinations they used against the Oilers. Gabriel Vilardi remains on line 1 and plays alongside Kyle Connor and Mark Scheifele. Alex Iafallo stayed on line 2, Morgan Barron stayed on line 3 and Vladislav Namestnikov stayed on line 4. Logan Stanley continues to cycle between three different defense partners (tonight it was Luke Schenn again), after Colin Miller and Haydn Fleury were previously in Schenn’s place.
Connor Hellebuyck was given another start in goal, as Hellebuyck continues to have a heavy workload since returning from injury. Eric Comrie should start in goal tomorrow night against the Maple Leafs. The Jets lineup remains fully healthy and injury-free. Hellebuyck came into tonight’s game with a 9-9-3 record, a 2.53 GAA and a solid .908 SV%. The Jets’ scoring woes continued tonight, and despite another goal from Logan Stanley, the Jets lost another game by one goal, ending 2025 on a seven-game losing streak.
1st Period
Tonight’s game started off fairly evenly, with the Red Wings slightly outsmarting the Jets. Josh Morrissey took the first penalty of the match, a rough call on Dylan Larkin. Just over a minute later, Dylan Larkin scored his 21st of the season. Lucas Raymond and Moritz Seider set up Larkin, who circled back near the point, and he fired one past Hellebuyck to give the Red Wings a 1-0 lead.
Dylan Larkin goal #21. #LGRW
The Jets could not respond to this opening goal and six minutes later the Red Wings made it 2-0. Former Jet Mason Appleton scored his fifth of the season after Michael Rasmussen sent in JT Compher on a 2 on 1. Compher waited and made a nice pass to Appleton, who was unmarked, and it clicked into the net.
App to see that go in! #LGRW
The rest of the first period went without penalties or goals. The Red Wings outscored the Jets 10-5 in the first 20 minutes and looked like the team in control of the game for most of the first minute.
2nd Period
The second period went without a goal, but this time the Jets defeated the Red Wings 11-6. Each team had two power play opportunities. Although each team’s first power play opportunity came early in the second, this was probably the best of the power plays for either team. The 2nd power play for each team was shortened, as the Red Wings took a penalty just 20 seconds after the Jets did, with just over 7 minutes left in the 2nd.
It was a decent response from the Jets in the 2nd, but no goals are scored. With 20 minutes left to play, the Jets faced the prospect of finishing in last place in the entire NHL standings in 2025.
3rd Period
The third period was another solid one for the Jets as they defeated the Red Wings again, this time 8-3. After a Red Wings turnover near their blue line, Jonathan Toews found Logan Stanley on the wing. Stanley went just below the faceoff dot and fired a wrist shot that fooled John Gibson and ultimately got the Jets on the scoreboard.
Logan Stanley goals: 7 Gustav Nyquist goals: 0
Stanley’s 7th on the season ties him with Morgan Barron for 4th on the Jets in goals. Stanley is having a great season, but only seven goals as a team’s fourth highest goal scorer at the halfway point of the season is just not good enough. Dylan Larkin took the only penalty of the third, a holding call at 8:24.
The Jets were unable to capitalize on this power play and the Red Wings continued to hold a 2-1 lead. With just over 2 minutes left, the Jets pulled their goalkeeper and tried one last push for the equalizer. There were a few “almost” good chances, but ultimately nothing good enough to tie this game.
The last shots on goal were 24-19 Jets, and now the Jets are 0-4-3 in their last 7 games. The month of December was quite close to disaster for the Jets, ending with only two wins. Maybe a new year can bring the Jets back to life, but right now it seems like the Jets need to address what’s wrong with this team and reassess their plans for the rest of the season and the future.
Next
The Jets will now look to quickly reset before playing their first game of 2026 as their regular season schedule continues Thursday night with a matchup against the Toronto Maple Leafs. Puck drop for this game will take place just after 6:00 PM CT. Stay up to date with all the latest Jets news, plus previews and recaps of every Jets game this season, right here at Jets Nation.
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