Detroit, MI – Niklas Kronwall scored the winner in the third period to help the Detroit Red Wings to a 2-1 win over the Edmonton Oilers on Saturday.
Pavel Datsyuk posted a goal and an assist while Jimmy Howard made 23 saves for the Red Wings, who have won their past two and four of six.
Nikolai Khabibulin made 28 stops and Justin Schultz had the lone goal of the game for the Oilers, who have dropped their past five games.
"Disappointed, of course, with our specialty teams, which has been very strong this season. Today they deserted us," Oilers coach Ralph Krueger said.
In the third period with the score tied, Detroit was skating on the power play and Datsyuk sent the disc from the right circle to the high slot where Kronwall cranked a huge slap shot that blew through a screen and past Khabibulin for a 2-1 lead.
"Mule (Johan Franzen) once again did a great job in front. I finally was able to get one on the net," said Kronwall. "We talked a lot about shooting the puck. Mule is going to be there all night long. The rest of us have to do a better job getting pucks in there."
Howard needed to make just six stops in the frame, but helped kill off a late 6-on-4 after Franzen got whistled for a penalty and Edmonton pulled the goalie for an extra attacker.
After a scoreless first period, the Red Wings took a 1-0 lead on the power play. Henrik Zetterberg sent the puck from the left point to the low left side where Damien Brunner sent a one-touch pass over to the right and Datsyuk slipped it in at the 8:33 mark of the second.
Edmonton scored on a power play of its own with 2:05 to play in the second as Schultz snapped a heavy wrister from the high slot that beat Howard for his fourth of the season.
Game Notes
Detroit hosts Los Angeles on Sunday ... Edmonton plays in Columbus on Sunday ... Detroit took three of four from Edmonton last season and has won nine of 10, overall ... Edmonton was 1-for-8 on the power play and Detroit went 2- for-7.
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