Detroit Red Wings: Each Player's Best Goal as a Red Wing

The Detroit Red Wings have been one of the best franchises—if not the best—in sports for the past 20 or so seasons. With four recent championships, countless Hall of Famers and 20 straight playoff appearances, it's hard to disagree.

With all the recent history, there have been plenty of exciting moments in Hockeytown.

Especially goals.

Here are the best goals by each Red Wing player in Detroit.

Jakub Kindl—First Career Goal

Jakub Kindl hasn't lit the lamp often during his short tenure with Detroit. That doesn't mean he hasn't been a solid blueliner for the Red Wings at all.

Kindl has two regular season goals with Detroit in his career. Expect that number to rise.

Nicklas Lidstrom—1997 Stanley Cup Finals

The Red Wings were on the verge of their first Stanley Cup in 42 seasons. Nick Lidstrom helped them capture it with the first goal of Game 4 versus the Flyers. This would be the first of four Stanley Cups in Lidstrom's career—and he still has a shot at winning another one. 

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Justin Abdelkader—2010 Quarterfinals against Phoenix

The Red Wings and Coyotes faced each other in the first round of the 2010 Stanley Cup Playoffs. It was a tough series all around and the Red Wings prevailed in seven games. 

Here, Justin Abdelkader takes a page out of Pavel Datsyuk's book; he stick-lifts Wolski, then goes to the net and beats Bryzgalov. This gave Detroit a 4-3 lead in the third and helped them tie this series up at one apiece. 

Danny Cleary—2009 Western Semifinals against Anaheim

Dan Cleary scored probably the biggest goal for the Red Wings in the 2009 playoffs. It was an intense Game 7 against the hated Anaheim Ducks. The Ducks would come back from a two-goal deficit in the game to tie it up in the third period.

Zetterberg tosses a pass to the front of the net, hoping for something good to happen. Cleary knocks the puck down out of midair and jams away at it for the 4-3 lead with three minutes to play in Game 7.

Todd Bertuzzi—2011 Western Semifinals against Sharks

Todd Bertuzzi has gone from hated in Hockeytown to one of the fan favorites.

He boosts his status with the fans here by scoring a spin-o-rama goal against the Sharks. The Red Wings were down 0-3 in the series and this gave them a 1-0 lead in the Game 4.

Perhaps that was the boost the Red Wings needed to make their memorable comeback that fell one game short. 

Pavel Datsyuk—Marty Turco

This goal by Pavel Datsyuk is one of the most memorable regular season goals for fans of any team. It is amazing what ability Datsyuk has with the puck. The fact that he has the coordination to pull this move off is ridiculous. 

He makes Marty Turco look like a house league goalie on this play. He had a similar shootout goal on Thomas Vokoun which ended with the same result. 

Patrick Eaves—2011 Western Quarterfinals against Phoenix

Patrick Eaves and the Red Wings held a 3-0 series lead against the Coyotes in the series. With Detroit down 2-1 in the first period, Patrick Eaves ties Game 4 with a little over a minute in the period. 

This would indeed be a huge goal for the Red Wings, helping them clinch the series and beat Phoenix in the first round for the second year in a row.

Corey Emmerton—First Career Goal

Corey Emmerton is a great young forward with Detroit and has plenty of veteran help to gain the experience he needs. Emmerton has only tallied two goals in his career—here is his first-ever NHL goal.

It may not have been the prettiest of goals, but as long as it crosses the line, it counts on paper.

Valtteri Filppula—2008 Stanley Cup Finals

The Red Wings and Pittsburgh Penguins were up against each other for the Stanley Cup in 2008. Detroit had a 1-0 lead in the series and were looking to make it 2-0, as they led by two in the third period. 

Filppula scores a highlight goal for the Red Wings to put the dagger in the Penguins. This goal helped Detroit take the 2-0 series lead and eventually their eleventh Stanley Cup in franchise history. 

Johan Franzen—2008 Western Quarterfinals against Nashville

Johan Franzen broke out in the 2008 Stanley Cup Playoffs. He started his tear by breaking Detroit's franchise record for game-winning goals in a month, surpassing the legendary Gordie Howe. 

He kept the momentum in full swing come playoff time. The Red Wings were in a crucial Game 5 against Nashville with the series tied at two apiece. This goal helped the Red Wings take the 3-2 series lead—and eventually the Stanley Cup. 

Darren Helm—2009 Western Conference Finals against Chicago

The Red Wings were facing their division rivals, the Chicago Blackhawks. The series would dictate who would go on to compete in the Stanley Cup Finals.

Detroit had a 3-1 series lead and only needed one more win. Game 5 would head to overtime, and the best player in that entire game would end up netting the winner.

Thomas Holmstrom—2011 Western Semifinals against San Jose

Holmstrom is among the best in the NHL at getting garbage goals and making defensemen and goaltenders unhappy. This goal was no different.

Holmstrom and the Red Wings were on the road in San Jose, down in the series 3-1. They made a two-goal comeback in the third period, with Holmstrom netting the game winner. 

It helped Detroit stay alive and force a Game 6 at home. 

Jiri Hudler—2008 Stanley Cup Finals

The Red Wings had a 2-1 lead going into Game 4 of the 2008 Stanley Cup Finals. Obviously, a road win going back to Detroit would be huge. 

Jiri Hudler helped Detroit get that road win with a backhand goal against Marc-Andre Fleury. It came with a little over two minutes to play in the third and would eventually hold up as the game winner.

This could have been the biggest goal in Detroit's quest for the cup. 

Drew Miller—against Columbus Blue Jackets

Drew Miller is a great grinder for the Detroit Red Wings and will be for years to come. He helped the Red Wings in this game by putting up a short-handed goal with Detroit down 2-0 in the second period. 

Miller shows that he can be a crucial player in key situations. He also showed it in the 2011 playoffs with great play with linemates Darren Helm and Patrick Eaves. 

Henrik Zetterberg—2008 Stanley Cup Finals Game-Winning Goal

This is definitely not Zetterberg's most skilled goal, but anyone who has a Stanley Cup game-winning goal has to consider that their best goal. Zetterberg put the Wings up 3-1 in the third period of Game 6, with Detroit leading the series 3-2.

This would hold up as the game winner and propel Detroit to the Stanley Cup. Zetterberg took home a Conn Smythe that year as the Stanley Cup Playoffs MVP. 

Jonathan Ericsson—2009 Western Conference Quarterfinals against Columbus

Jonathan Ericsson made his debut with the Red Wings in the 2008-2009 season. The Red Wings were facing the Columbus Blue Jackets in the first round of the playoffs; Ericsson would get the game-winning goal in his first career playoff game.

Ericsson will need to get back to doing these types of things if he wants another pay raise in Detroit.

Niklas Kronwall—Helps Ozzie Get His 400th Career Victory

Kronwall and the Red Wings were facing the Colorado Avalanche in a regular season game in Denver. It would not be a normal regular season game, though, as Chris Osgood would get his 400th career victory. 

Kronwall lasers a one-timer from Zetterberg to give the Red Wings a 4-3 win in overtime. Fitting in all ways that Osgood's 400th win would come in Colorado.

Brad Stuart—2010 Western Conference Quarterfinals against Phoenix

Brad Stuart has formed a pretty good pair with Niklas Kronwall over the past couple of seasons—they are perhaps the hardest-hitting defensive duo in the league. Stuart also has a pretty good and underrated shot, like Kronwall.

Here, Stuart comes out of the box after serving a penalty and gets a breakaway on Ilya Bryzgalov. He buries the chance and puts the Red Wings up a commanding three goals with four seconds left in the second.

This goal is important because this was Game 7 of the first round and was a major blow to the Phoenix Coyotes. 

Ian White—First Goal as a Red Wing

Ian White is one of the new players to wear a Red Wings jersey this year. He is an underrated, puck-moving defenseman who will blend in nicely with Detroit.

He scores a goal in his first game as a Red Wing. Hopefully there are plenty more to come from White.

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