DETROIT, Michigan -- Detroit captain Nicklas Lidstrom scored 1:38 into overtime Sunday night, lifting the Red Wings to a 5-4 win over the Calgary Flames.
Lidstrom took a feed from Darren Helm in the left faceoff circle, cut across the top of the crease to outwait Calgary goalie Miikka Kiprusoff, and slid a backhander into the back of the net.
The Red Wings had forced overtime with just 3.2 seconds remaining in regulation while skating six-on-four.
Pavel Datsyuk carried the puck into the Flames' zone, splitting the Calgary forwards. Defenseman Cory Sarich was caught without a stick and couldn't block Datsyuk's pass to Henrik Zetterberg at the left side of the slot, where he snapped a shot into the top of the net.
The Red Wings had opened the scoring just 1:56 into the game, when Johan Franzen snapped a shot from the right faceoff circle past Kiprusoff on a Detroit power play.
Niklas Hagman responsed for the Flames at 5:21 of the first, beating Detroit goaltender Jimmy Howard one-on-one after Jarome Iginla gained the Red Wings' zone on an odd-man rush.
Iginla put Calgary out front with the next two goals. Just 54 seconds into the second he beat Howard from the bottom of the right faceoff circle after a turnover behind the net. He scored again 3:15 later, flipping the puck into an open net from a sharp angle on a Flames power play.
Datsyuk tipped a Brian Rafalski shot in at 2:28 of the third period for Detroit's second power play goal, pulling the Red Wings back within one.
Alex Tanguay carried the puck across the goal mouth and beat Howard at 7:14 of the period to restore Calgary's two-goal lead at 4-2.
Zetterberg's first of the night drew the Wings to back within one with 8:56 left in the third as he backhanded a shot from the slot past Kiprusoff.
Kiprusoff stopped 33 of the 38 shots he faced on the night. Howard made 23 saves on 27 shots.
The Flames scored once on three power play tries. Detroit had three goals with the extra attacker on seven chances.
The win gives the Red Wings 11 out of a possible 12 points in the standings during their season-long six-game homestand. They'll next be in action on Wednesday night when they visit the Atlanta Thrashers.
Notes: Defenseman Jonathan Ericsson left the game during the first period after a shot hit his ankle. He returned for the second... Forward Danny Cleary did not return after leaving the game in the second period with what the team called an upper body injury.
We've got a 5:00 start today, with the Red Wings hosting the Flames.
Calgary looks like they might be getting back on track and Detroit just can't get a good start. Those, combined with the early puck-drop, give me a bad feeling about this one.
Last time I checked, the Wings' lines were unknown. Babcock's been talking about how Eaves and Miller are making it so he can't bench them. Eaves scored what should have been the game-winner on Friday so you'd think he'd stay in the lineup but Miller sat after a two-point night so who knows?
You want a terrifying thought? What the hell is the lineup gonna look like when Kris Draper comes back? Anyone even remember that he's still on this team?
I'm not watching pregame but @thetinnishflash says Eaves and Miller are both taking the pregame skate. Of course, Draper took it about a week ago so it could mean nothing.
Great passing on the power play there. Good job by Franzen to get the shot off quickly.
Great job along the boards by Iginla to gain the zone there. I don't think he was offsides, he had enough possession. Damn.
Ericsson's really hurt. That's not just a stinger. Damn, he'd been way better since coming back from that injury.
Edit: Wow, I tried to post this awhile ago and for some reason it didn't go through.
Wings are wasting their opportunities. Four power plays and one goal? No shots on the fourth? Ugh.
Great to see Ericsson back out for the second.
Oh my god, Jimmy. Seal off the f*cking post.
Told ya to be worried about the next power play.
Damn, Bert, I was about to say I wanted to see you get mad but don't take out your own guys.
Someone explain to me how two Flames going after Abdelkader ends up with even penalty calls.
Sweet, Cleary isn't coming back. Wings better have some f*cking jump in the third.
There we go! Great tip, great setup. Why wasn't the PP doing that earlier?
What the f*ck was that? Christ...
I'll be damned, Wings with some life.
Piece of sh*t power play.
I did not think the Wings were going to do that. Am I glad to be wrong!
Transition! I was saying that on Friday and it finally worked. Holy f*ck. I can't believe it.
My Internet keeps breaking, we'll see if this goes through.
I'm kinda shocked the Wings got the win. Great move by Nick on the GWG, though.
And then Nicklas Lidstrom made a great move in OT and Detroit got two points out of a game they were four seconds away from getting none.
This was one of those games that proved the old axiom: It's better to be lucky than good...I think that's the old axiom....Anyway, it usually works against the Wings!
I will absolutely take luck in the absence of playing well. But I'd prefer winning due to playing well over due to luck.
Nicklas Lidstrom
Credit: Clark Rasmussen
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