The Detroit Red Wings bench erupted in admiration as defensemen Simon Edvinsson and Albert Johansson finally made their way off the ice. Their shift against the Carolina Hurricanes had lasted an astounding four minutes and 28 seconds—nearly six times the average NHL shift length.
“A one-minute shift is usually when you start getting tired,” Edvinsson admitted. “Then four—that’s tough. Then you really start to feel like, this is a really, really hard shift.”
The marathon shift occurred late in the second period of Tuesday’s game when the Hurricanes maintained relentless pressure in the Red Wings’ defensive zone. The official scoresheet recorded shifts of 4:28 for Johansson and 4:24 for Edvinsson—an eternity in hockey time.
Even captain Dylan Larkin felt the intensity from the bench. “It was long. It was a grind,” he said. “When we cleared the zone for the third time and they came right back, we were like, ‘Oh my god, here we go again.’ But Albert had some really good blocks, and it worked out.”
Johansson reflected on the shift’s difficulty, emphasizing their defensive resilience. “You’re gassed. You’re getting tired, but we just tried to keep them to the outside, and we didn’t give up a goal. So I think we did a decent job even though we were exhausted.”
The two defensemen were unaware of the exact length of their shift until after the game. “I didn’t know until I got into the locker room,” Edvinsson said. “Someone told us we had been out there for four and a half minutes. I don’t remember who—it was all a blur. I was still trying to catch my breath.”
Despite the fatigue, the duo’s resilience paid off, helping Detroit withstand the Hurricanes’ attack and avoid conceding a goal. Their effort was a testament to the determination and grit that define Red Wings hockey.
