Former Winnipeg Jets forward Mason Appleton scored what proved to be the game-winning goal against his former club as part of the Detroit Red Wings' 2-1 victory on Wednesday evening.

The Red Wings are 11-3-2 in their past 16. They reached the midway mark of the season at 24-14-3, good for 51 points. The Jets have lost seven in a row (0-4-3) and are 3-12-4 in their past 19. They won the Presidents’ Trophy for having the best record in the league last season.

John Gibson kept up his hot December with 24 saves, Dylan Larkin and Mason Appleton scored goals, and the Detroit Red Wings beat the slumping Winnipeg Jets 2-1.

A pair of Eastern Conference squads meet when the second-place Detroit Red Wings (24-14-3) visit the 12th-place Pittsburgh Penguins (17-12-9) at PPG Paints Arena on Thursday at 7 p.m. ET. Pittsburgh secured a 5-1 home victory over the Carolina Hurricanes its last time out on Dec. 30.

After winning their first-ever Presidents’ Trophy in franchise history in 2024-25, the Jets have struggled out of the gate this season. Ahead of Wednesday’s slate, Winnipeg was eighth in the Western Conference’s Central Division, had the fewest points recorded in the NHL and was on a six-game winless streak.

Detroit Red Wings forward Alex DeBrincat detailed the major change for the Red Wings since the arrival of Todd McLellan, and how it's showing in their record.

The Red Wings season has gone about as well as it could so far, but Detroit would benefit from an upgrade on the blue line.

The Wings (23-14-3) come into the game atop the Atlantic Division. James van Riemsdyk was part of a full practice after missing two games when he was dinged by a puck on Dec. 23. There wasn't an official clearance post-practice, but Todd McLellan said that, "based on my eyeball test," it looks like van Riemsdyk will return Wednesday.