Holy Batman! James van Riemsdyk, Detroit Red Wings save the day

MONTREAL — The Detroit Red Wings were in a rush to get home, to leave Bell Centre before the sleet and snow piled any higher.

But what a feeling with which to depart Montreal. Shutting out a franchise as storied as the Canadiens, 4-0, in their home, on a Saturday night, to even the season series?

"It is pretty satisfying," captain Dylan Larkin said. "I think, especially how opening night went, to kind of look at the game on opening night and the game tonight, just shows how far we've come."

SATURDAY'S ACTION: Detroit Red Wings blank Montreal Canadiens behind John Gibson

Three months have passed since the Canadiens dealt the Wings a 5-1 loss at Little Caesars Arena in their season opener, a game where the Wings couldn't have looked much worse. In the rematch, they couldn't have looked much better, backed by John Gibson's 26-save performance.

"We're obviously really happy, but the process tonight, the fixes that we made after opening night, we tried to adjust some things," coach Todd McLellan said. "I thought all 20 from the goaltender out played a pretty solid game. We didn't give up much and when we did, Gibby was there. Power play gets us one, but we checked well tonight."

Now the three-game season series is tied, and the Wings (27-15-4) have moved into first place in the Atlantic Division, one point ahead of the Tampa Bay Lightning (who have three games in hand) and two ahead of the Canadiens (who have one game in hand). That's how tight the standings are.

"These are going to be the types of games we're going to be playing for the rest of the year," James van Riemsdyk said. "I mean, that's a really good team over there. They didn't give us much either. Games like this are fun to play when you're right in the mix there and you know everything that's at stake each and every night.

"We've just got to keep building and keep moving forward."

The Wings have a huge day back home on Monday, with a ceremony to retire Sergei Fedorov's No. 91, followed by a game against the Carolina Hurricanes (7 p.m., FanDuel Sports Network Detroit).

Van Riemsdyk picked up an assist when he set up the first goal with a pass that took a wild carom to Lucas Raymond, who put it into an open net.

It was an emotional day for van Riemsdyk, whose son, Liam, celebrated his fourth birthday back at the family's home in Minnesota. Van Riemsdyk arrived at the game dressed in a Batman costume

"He's having a superhero party back home and my family, my wife and my kids, have sacrificed a lot for me to be here and be able to live out my dream of playing and trying to chase the Stanley Cup and all these great things," van Riemsdyk said. "So I thought if I couldn't be there for the party, I tried to show him that I was thinking about him and maybe this is something down the road when he looks back at it, he'll think it's kind of funny doing it in this building, Hockey Night in Canada, Saturday night. Kind of a fun thing."

Van Riemsdyk has been a great addition for the Wings: In the past three games alone, he has racked up six points. Teammates were delighted to help him celebrate his son's big day.

"He's been away from his family this year and that's hard on any person and it's a big sacrifice that his whole family has to make," Larkin said. "I'm sure his son couldn't believe that Batman was going to a game with his dad tonight. Pretty cool stuff and it puts it in perspective that there's more than just a guy on the ice, there's a whole story behind it."

A story as fun as beating the Canadiens. Front to back, it was a team effort. Mason Appleton left with a face bruised by getting hit near the eyes by Brendan Gallagher's stick in the first period and getting hit in the mouth by teammate Elmer Söderblom's stick in the third period.

"My face hurts like hell," Appleton said.

Winning is a balm, though. Raymond called the Wings' performance "a good solid 60 minutes. Scoring in a lot of different ways. Coming out in that third period, the way we did, got a goal right away. Really good game against a good team."

Van Riemsdyk arriving in a Batman suit seemed to set the tone for the evening.

"These guys still have a job," McLellan said. "They come to work. We're on the road a lot. James, in particular, is away from his family. He's got newborn twins, and he's an outstanding family man. Any day he gets off, he's on the plane and he's flying back to visit his family. I know there's a bunch of other Supermans and Batmans and whatever else you want to think about.  Pretty close team when the teammates are willing to don those Superman suits."

Contact Helene St. James at [email protected].

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This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Detroit Red Wings in top form to take over first in Atlantic Division