Red Wings win high-scoring affair over Sabres in shootout
DETROIT - Brad Richards scored on Detroit's third attempt in a shootout and Jack Eichel missed the net on the ensuing chance, allowing the Red Wings to beat the Buffalo Sabres 5-4 on Tuesday night.
The @DetroitRedWings improved to 17-1-2 in their last 20 games vs BUF dating to Feb. 13, 2003, including 8 straight wins at Joe Louis Arena.
— NHL Public Relations (@PR_NHL) December 2, 2015
Justin Abdelkader's second goal with 6:29 to go in regulation pulled the Red Wings into a 4-all tie after they blew a pair of two-goal leads and a one-goal advantage in the third.
Evander Kane had his second goal in the opening minute of the third and Zach Bogosian had a go-ahead score 1:29 later for the Sabres.
The Red Wings gave up a game-tying score in the third period for the fifth straight game, then needed Abdelkader's second goal to avoid losing in regulation.
Related: VIDEO: Abdelkader caps off Gordie Howe hat trick with fight
Linus Ullmark made 42 saves for the Sabres. Detroit's Petr Mrazek stopped 28 shots.
Both goaltenders stopped the first two shots each team had in the shootout before Richards scored and Eichel didn't force Mrazek to stop his shot.
Buffalo had a 4-on-3 power play midway through the five-minute overtime after Gustav Nyquist was called for tripping. Kane was inches away from taking advantage, but his shot hit the left post.
The Red Wings have an eight-game point streak, their longest since going 12 straight games with a point in 2010. Buffalo hasn't won in Detroit since 2006.
The game featured two of the NHL's top rookies, Eichel and Detroit's Dylan Larkin. They were teammates for USA Hockey's national team development program during from 2012 to 2014.
Detroit dominated early, scoring on Tomas Tatar's backhander 1:34 into the game, and outshooting Buffalo 5-0. The Sabres responded with a flurry of shots, but Mrazek made six saves in about a minute to keep the Red Wings ahead.
The Red Wings went ahead 2-0 midway through the first when Jonathan Ericsson's fluttering shot appeared to go off Abdelkader's right shoulder and left arm and over Ullmark.
Kane scored his first of two goals - matching the number he had in his first 14 games this season - late in the first period.
Drew Miller's first goal of the year early in the second restored Detroit's two-goal lead. Buffalo's Zemgus Girgensons cut the deficit to a goal late in the second.