DETROIT — Pavel Datsyuk had a goal and assist as the Detroit Red Wings defeated the Edmonton Oilers 2-1 at Joe Louis Arena Saturday afternoon.
Datsyuk opened the scoring with a power play goal a 8:33 into the second period. Damien Brunner found Datsyuk with a cross ice pass down low, and Datsyuk put the puck between the legs of Oilers goaltender Nikolai Khabibulin just after the Red Wings 5-on-3 power play ended. Henrik Zetterberg also got an assist on the goal. The goal was Datsyuk’s fourth of the season.
Justin Schultz tied the game later in the second period with a power play goal of his own. Schultz ripped a wrist shot from the point past Jimmy Howard for his fourth goal of the season.
Niklas Kronwall scored the game-winning goal 6:08 into the third period. On the power play again, Datsyuk dropped the puck back to Kronwall to the point when everyone was thinking Datsyuk would shoot. Kronwall then ripped a slapshot past Khabibulin who was screened by Johan Franzen for his first goal of the season. Zetterberg received the second assist on that goal as well.
Khabibulan made 28 saves on 30 shots while Howard stopped 23 of 24 shots. Detroit improves to 6-4-1 and hosts the defending Stanley Cup Champion Los Angeles Kings tomorrow at 12:30.
