EDMONTON – Pavel Datsyuk and Justin Abdelkader each had a goal and an assist as the Detroit Red Wings won their fourth game in their last six outings, defeating the Edmonton Oilers 4-2 on Tuesday.
Datsyuk’s goal came on the power play with just 34 seconds remaining after Edmonton had tied the game in the late stages.
Kyle Quincey and Luke Glendening also scored for the Red Wings (21-10-9), who are 1-1 to start a six-game road trip.
It was Detroit goalie Jimmy Howard’s 11th consecutive win over Edmonton.
Jordan Eberle responded with both goals for the Oilers (9-23-9), who have lost 23 of their last 26 games.
Edmonton is, however, 2-1-2 under the sole direction of interim head coach Todd Nelson.
Detroit came close to starting the scoring just past the midmark of the first period, but Tomas Tatar’s backhand shot on the power play rang off the post behind Oilers starter Viktor Fasth.
Edmonton made it 1-0 on a power play of its own with four-and-a-half minutes to play in the opening period as Jeff Petry fed Eberle in front and he lifted the puck into the top corner from an improbable angle to beat Detroit goalie Jimmy Howard, who had robbed him with a big save earlier on the man advantage.
The Red Wings tied the game with nine minutes remaining in the second period as Quincey was allowed to swoop in and get to his own rebound before chipping it past Fasth.
Detroit likely should have gone ahead a couple minutes later as Tatar was all over the Edmonton net, sliding the puck through the crease on one occasion and forcing Fasth to make a couple of massive saves.
The Red Wings kept the pressure up and made it 2-1 with a minute-and-a-half to go in the second period on the power play as Abdelkader tipped a Niklas Kronwall point shot into the Oilers’ net for his 10th goal of the season.
Detroit outshot Edmonton 26-15 through 40 minutes.
Fasth kept Edmonton in range until the Oilers tied the game with 4:05 remaining as Ryan Nugent-Hopkins made a nice feed from behind the goal line to catch Eberle in flight, and he notched his ninth goal of the year.
Edmonton’s Benoit Pouliot took a four-minute penalty with two-and-a-half minutes left for spearing Jonathan Ericsson and the Red Wings took advantage with just 34 seconds left, as the puck went in off Oilers defender Matt Hendricks during a scramble in front on goal credited to Datsyuk.
Detroit added an empty net goal from Glendening with Pouliot still in the penalty box.
The Red Wings play the third game of their current six-game road trip on Wednesday in Calgary against the Flames. The Oilers are off until Friday when they welcome the Chicago Blackhawks to town.
Notes — It was the first of two games this season between the Red Wings and Oilers. Detroit came into the game having gone 13-0-1 in their last 14 meetings with the Oilers. Edmonton had two wins in their past 15 games against the Red Wings, each through the shootout. Detroit had also recorded at least a point in 27 of their last 28 games against Edmonton… Oilers 2014 third-overall draft pick Leon Draisaitl will now be on a Western Hockey League contender after having his rights traded from the Prince Albert Raiders to the powerhouse Kelowna Rockets on Tuesday. Draisaitl, 19, was sent back down to junior on Sunday after recording two goals and seven assists in 37 games as a centre for the Oilers this season… Detroit defenseman Xavier Ouellet remains with the team, with Jakub Kindl eligible to come off injured reserve, but not yet ready to play with an elbow injury. Also out for the Wings Jonas Gustavsson (shoulder)… The lone injury for the Oilers is forward Tyler Pitlick who was finally released from hospital in Calgary on Monday after suffering a lacerated spleen and is expected out for three months.
Comments