PITTSBURGH >> Lucas Raymond is in his third NHL season, so it’s not like this was a debut or he reintroduced himself to the rest of the league.

Red Wings opponents have had to account for Raymond’s presence almost since he stepped foot on the ice as a rookie.

But what Raymond did Thursday, in the Wings’ 6-5 overtime loss in Pittsburgh, was something maybe even more pronounced and formidable.

In the biggest game of the Wings’ season to date — and likely the most important NHL NHL game Raymond has ever played in — he scored three goals (his second career hat trick) and set up captain Dylan Larkin for a goal, tying his career best with a four-point game. All three goals tied the game at the time, most importantly the last one with 5 minutes, 7 seconds remaining in regulation time that solidified a vital point in the standings.

Yes, it sure felt as if Raymond had a “statement” sort of game.

“I give Lucas Raymond a lot of credit,” Larkin said. “He showed some stones (Thursday) to play the way he played in a game like that. He was the best player on the ice out there, with some world-class players. That’s how you show up and play in a game like that.

“For a young guy to do that, it’s unbelievable.”

It was all there all night. Raymond skating hard, skating with the puck with a purpose, shooting, finding his linemates, Larkin and Alex DeBrincat. The confidence, too.

Playing against Pittsburgh’s Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin, Kris Letang and Erik Karlsson, Raymond looked like he belonged in their neighborhood.

“The way Lucas played (Thursday), if you’re looking at a step in his career, then that’s the performance that I’m very impressed by,” Larkin said. “That’s a good statement to the hockey world.”

Raymond has 29 goals and 68 points for the season, both career highs. He’s gotten to that milestones being on a tear with the Wings’ season on the line. Raymond has 12 goals and 17 points in the last 15 games, as one of the key drivers in the Wings’ rollercoaster march to the playoffs.

“Luke’s been building his game for a while now,” coach Derek Lalonde said. “I mean, a hat trick on the road in a must-win game this late in the season, it’s really good on him (Raymond) and we needed it for the point (in the standings).”

The things the Wings wanted to see Raymond work on, to begin doing on a consistent basis, they’re more noticeable these days in his repertoire.

“Just winning more battles, more consistency in his game,” Lalonde said. “You can see him getting to hard areas. Last year he would lose these battles, he’d end up on the ice in a battle. He’s defending and he’s winning those battles and you can see confidence.

“He’s a transporter of the puck through the neutral zone, which is confidence and improvement in his game. It’s just really exciting for him and us.”

Never one to expound much about himself, Raymond was typically low-key after the game.

The more important item after Thursday’s game was the loss to Pittsburgh, and the fact the Penguins took over the Eastern Conference’s second and final wild-card spot, with a one-point lead on the Wings, Washington and Philadelphia. The fact the Wings earned one point was crucial. But two points would have been the preferred outcome in the Wings’ perfect world.

“We allowed a little bit too much than we would have wanted to, but we were able to stick with it,” said Raymond, alluding to the Wings’ resiliency. “That shows a lot about our team once again, to be able to battle back for a point.”

Raymond’s ability to raise his performance during the most important time of the season is surely a positive development going forward. It’s also timely for Raymond in the respect he’s a restricted free agent this summer, and likely a player general manager Steve Yzerman will look to keep in the fold for a number of years.

Raymond has talked about the enjoyment of being in these types of pressure games. The Wings weren’t anywhere close to being in this position the last two seasons. This is what Raymond has been waiting for.

“Fun games,” Raymond said of the pressure-packed games. “Everyone in this room feels like it. We have a lot of competitive guys in here and these are the type of games you play for.”