DETROIT, Michigan -- The Detroit Red Wings started Wednesday night's matchup with the same lines they had used all season but a change midway through the game sparked a comeback to earn a 4-3 overtime win over the Calgary Flames.
Coach Mike Babcock had the team practice with different sets of lines all week so that he could see what worked after trying to switch things up on Saturday against Chicago and being unhappy with the results.
Marian Hossa - usually on a line with Pavel Datsyuk and Tomas Holmstrom - skated with Henrik Zetterberg and Dan Cleary. Johan Franzen left Zetterberg's line to join Datsyuk's. The updated lines generated two third period goals as the Red Wings forced overtime.
Down 3-1 midway through the third period, Zetterberg put the rebound of a Cleary chance past Calgary netminder Curtis McElhinney to pull the Wings to within a goal.
Brian Rafalski rifled home a shot from the right point with 6:17 remaining in regulation to tie the game.
Nicklas Lidstrom scored the game-winner in a similar fashion, blasting a long shot past McElhinney with Datsyuk screening.
The Flames had taken a 2-0 lead into the first intermission on goals by Craig Conroy and Daymond Langkow. Valtteri Filppula tipped a Kris Draper shot past McElhinney to make it 2-1 after two periods. A power play goal by David Moss made it 3-1 at 8:51 of the third.
Ty Conklin stopped 29 of 32 shots in the Detroit net. McElhinney made 35 saves on 39 chances for Calgary.
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Crossbar saves the Wings early. Ugh.
The Red Wings wrap up their four-game homestand tonight, hosting the Calgary Flames.
For the Flames it will be there third game in four nights, meaning that backup goalie Curtis McElhinney will likely get the start. Ty Conklin will make his second start in a row for Detroit after picking up a 5-4 shootout win over the Blackhawks on Saturday.
Mike Babcock juggled the Red Wings' lines in practice this week but will sticking with the combinations used on Saturday for Wednesday's game. The lone change is Kirk Maltby's return to the lineup, leaving Derek Meech as a healthy scratch.
I'm going to the game in Dallas on Friday. I hope Babs has the new lines in play then.
Great D by Kronner on the two-on-one.
Damnit, off Datsyuk and in. Don't see enough of those going the other way.
I hate Todd Bertuzzi.
Langkow with the goal. Hmm. As the commentators keep saying, the net was 'wide open'. Not good. But I still feel calm. I mean, look at what happens to all the Wings' two goal leads!
Urgh, Langkow makes it 2-0.
Flames 14 shots
Wings 10 shots
Dats/Hossa line is -2
Lids -1
Not a typical Red Wings period in any fashion
HOLY LORD, DRAPER JUST FINISHED!
______
Edit - Dr. Fil, which is even better in my book <3
Holy f*ck, Draper hit the net. Oh, wait, no he didn't, it was deflected in. Intentional or not, I'll take it.
Filppula got the last touch.Come on!
OK. I'm listening in on the radio and it sounds like the Wings showed up
"Don't try that sh*t, Stuart, I'll snap your neck."
Bet no one gets suspended for that.
Wow, third delay of game on the night for Calgary.
Awful, awful call on Franzen. That's bullsh*t.
Oh sh*t, 3-1 to Calgary, Moss on the PP from Franzen's penalty . Franzen was trying to duck out of the way of the puck on that call, how the hell was that interference?
Zata says "Learn to control your rebound, bitch."
Way to go Raffy! Tie game!
Yes! 3 all.
Both teams get their chances in the final seconds.
Wings don't deserve the point they get out of this. If they win, they deserve the second point. They don't deserve the first.
Lidstrom with the overtime winner.
Good for him 
Goal! Nicklas Lidstrom with a f*cking blast and Pavel Datsyuk with the screen?!
Woohoo! Lidstrom clinches it in OT.
Ty Conklin
Credit: Clark Rasmussen
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