Jets and Red Wings Both Desperate for First Win at Little Caesars
Two teams that have yet to taste victory in 2026-27 meet Sunday afternoon in Detroit, with both franchises carrying the weight of early stumbles into a 1:00 PM ET puck drop. Neither side can afford to let this one slip — and that desperation alone makes this a game worth watching.
Winnipeg arrives at Little Caesars Arena sitting at 0-0-1, which means they've already surrendered points in the standings without even taking a regulation loss. Detroit is in arguably worse shape at 0-1-0 — a clean defeat to open the season. Two teams, zero wins, one afternoon to change the narrative. The urgency here is real, and early-season games like this have a way of setting a tone that lingers.
On the Jets' side, the early-season production has been concentrated in a tight group. Kyle Connor leads Winnipeg with 1 goal and 2 points through the opening stretch, while Adam Lowry has been the setup man with 2 assists — the most by any Jet so far. That's a functional early identity: Connor finishing, Lowry facilitating. Whether that combination can crack a Detroit defense that's still finding its footing is the central question Sunday. Detroit, for their part, have no standout statistical performers listed through the early going — which is either a depth-chart concern or a sign that the right players simply haven't broken through yet.
In net, Stuart Skinner is expected to start for Winnipeg, while John Gibson is projected in goal for Detroit. Both are capable of stealing a game on any given afternoon, and in a matchup between two teams still searching for their first win, goaltending could easily be the deciding factor. Our model doesn't have a validated read on this one — so rather than lean on a number that isn't there, the honest call is to watch the game itself. What I will say: a team that gets its first win here gets a psychological foothold. A team that drops to 0-0-2 or 0-2-0 starts asking uncomfortable questions very early. That's the real stakes at Little Caesars this Sunday.