94.571 fans watched the game at Ohio Stadium. © APA/GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA / JEFF DEAN

In front of 94.000 fans: Detroit loses again against Columbus

While the Detroit Red Wings failed to score anything in front of an impressive crowd, Alexander Ovechkin moved within ten goals of Gretzky's goal record. Connor McDavid, on the other hand, reached another career milestone.

March 02, 2025

From: dpa

The Detroit Red Wings suffered a defeat in front of the second largest crowd in the history of the North American ice hockey league NHL. In an outdoor game in front of 94.571 fans at Ohio Stadium on Saturday, the Red Wings lost 3:5 to the Columbus Blue Jackets. The only time there was more attendance at an NHL game was on January 1, 2014, with 105.491 spectators at Michigan Stadium for Detroit's game against the Toronto Maple Leafs.

Two days after the 2:5 home defeat, Detroit was also unable to gain anything away from home against its table neighbor and direct competitor for a play-off spot. In the huge football stadium, Denton Mateychuk (26th) put the home team in the lead. The best power play team since the beginning of the year struck back in the majority, and Alex DeBrincat equalized with his 28th goal of the season (34th).

The Red Wings lost to the Blue Jackets. © APA / JASON MOWRY

A little later, Columbus pulled ahead to 32:38 thanks to a double strike by Dimitri Woronkow and Mathieu Olivier within 3 seconds (1th). Detroit equalized again thanks to Patrick Kane (43rd) and DeBrincat (57th), but Justin Danforth (58th) and Adam Fantilli (59th) shot Columbus to victory. Kasper received 19 minutes of ice time.

Ovechkin with goal no. 884

Alexander Ovechkin is only ten goals away from Wayne Gretzky's all-time record. The 39-year-old Russian scored his 1th goal in the NHL regular season in the Washington Capitals' 3:884 home defeat against Tampa Bay Lightning. Gretzky is still number one with 894. The Washington striker scored against Tampa Bay to make it 1:2 (57th) and has 31 goals this season.

Draisaitl’s goal streak ends, the point streak does not

The Edmonton Oilers' star player and current top scorer has been involved in at least one goal for eleven games in a row. In the 3-1 win over the Carolina Hurricanes, Draisaitl failed to score for the first time in seven games, but did assist on two goals.

Connor McDavid was the third fastest player to reach 700 assists in the NHL. © APA / GRANT HALVERSON

His congenial teammate Connor McDavid was particularly involved in the goal in the final second when Evan Bouchard scored into the empty net to make the final score. McDavid was the third fastest player in NHL history to reach the 700 assist mark. The Canadian needed 699 games to do this, only the legends Wayne Gretzky and Mario Lemieux were faster.