Miller helps Wings hold off Oilers 3-2

EDMONTON, Alberta – Drew Miller scored with 4:15 remaining in the third period and the Detroit Red Wings beat the Edmonton Oilers 3-2 Monday night.

Dan Cleary and Jiri Hudler also scored for Detroit, which has won 12 of its last 15 games.

Ryan Jones and Jordan Eberle had Edmonton's goals. The Oilers have lost four in a row and nine of 11.

Detroit started the scoring four and a half minutes into the first when Cleary deftly redirected a backhand shot by Jakub Kindl past Oilers goalie Nikolai Khabibulin.

Edmonton had its chances on Red Wings goalie Jimmy Howard, particularly Taylor Hall, who hit a post and had a puck heading toward an open net on a partial breakaway that was fished safely away by Detroit's Brad Stuart.

The Oilers tied the game less than three minutes into the second period as Sam Gagner chipped a puck up ice to give Jones a breakaway. Jones made the most of the opportunity, burying his 11th through Howard's legs.

The Red Wings went up 2-1 with four minutes remaining in the second after a Ryan Whitney giveaway allowed them to gain the Edmonton zone and Hudler was able to tip a Henrik Zetterberg shot into the net.

Edmonton tied the game once again on a power-play goal with 0.5 seconds left in the second period as a Ryan Nugent-Hopkins shot that was blocked in front was picked up by Eberle in the slot and rifled home.

Khabibulin came up big seven minutes into the third period to keep it a 2-2 game, making a huge stop on a point-blank shot from Zetterberg.

Notes: The Red Wings won the only previous meeting between the two teams 3-0 in Detroit in November. Detroit came into the game with a six-game winning streak against Edmonton and had earned points in 19 of their last 20 games against the Oilers. ... Detroit was beginning a three-game Western Canada trip in four nights. ... Detroit forward Jan Mursak (fractured ankle) has returned to practices, but is expected to head to Grand Rapids (AHL) for a conditioning stint after Christmas. Detroit forward Patrick Eaves (fractured jaw) and Chris Conner (fractured hand) are also recovering. ... Edmonton D Cam Barker (ankle) is still out until likely February. ... Detroit forward Valterri Filppula is on pace to surpass his career-high 40 point season, with 26 points in 31 games.