Paul Harris – NHL.com Correspondent
DETROIT — The Detroit Red Wings held on for an important 3-2 win against the Buffalo Sabres Monday at Joe Louis Arena.
The Red Wings remain tied with the Philadelphia Flyers for the second wild-card position in the Eastern Conference. Philadelphia defeated the Winnipeg Jets 3-2 in overtime Monday and hold the tie-breaker since they have a game in hand. The Red Wings, fourth in the Atlantic Division, moved to within a point of the third-place Boston Bruins.
Dylan Larkin, Riley Sheahan and Luke Glendening scored for Detroit (38-27-11). Henrik Zetterberg had two assists and Jimmy Howard made 18 saves.
Zemgus Girgensons and Sam Reinhart scored for Buffalo (31-35-10). Casey Nelson had two assists Chad Johnson made 26 saves.
Girgensons (2:50 left) and Reinhart (1:49 left) scored 1:11 apart in the final three minutes with Johnson pulled to make it close. It was Girgenson’s sixth goal and first in 24 games. Reinhart got his 22nd goal.
Glendening’s empty-net goal with three minutes left made it 3-0.
Larkin’s power-play goal gave Detroit a 1-0 lead with 1:28 left in the first period. He moved to the bottom of the left circle and put the rebound of Zetterberg’s shot off Johnson, the inside of the right goal post and into the net. It was Larkin’s 22nd goal, the most by a Red Wings rookie since Zetterberg had 22 in 2002-03.
Sheahan made it 2-0 9:05 into the second period. He picked up the puck in the corner to Howard’s left, went behind the net, stopped and started in the bottom of the opposite circle, headed up ice, weaving his way through the three zones and beat Johnson with a wrist shot from the top of the left circle. It was Sheahan’s 12th goal and third in three games.
Hockey Hall of Fame member and Detroit Red Wings legend Gordie Howe was in attendance and addressed Detroit’s players before the game. With a little less than seven minutes remaining in the first period, Howe was shown on the jumbotron and got a standing ovation from the crowd, which sang “Happy Birthday”. Howe will turn 88 on Thursday.
Buffalo forward Evander Kane left the game after the second period and did not return.
(Reprinted with permission of the Buffalo Sabres)
