Red Wings 3 Oilers 1
DETROIT — Dylan Larkin and Patrik Nemeth scored in the first period, and the Detroit Red Wings defeated the Edmonton Oilers 3-1 Tuesday night to end an eight-game losing streak.
Jimmy Howard made 31 saves for the Red Wings, who won for the first time since Oct. 10 against Montreal.
Larkin converted on a power play 7:41 into the game, lifting the puck from the front of the crease. Nemeth, who signed as a free agent last summer, scored his first goal with the Red Wings less than a minute later.
A long scoreless stretch for both teams ended with 7:12 left in the game when Leon Draisaitl scored from the right circle to pull Edmonton within one.
Edmonton had a man advantage shortly thereafter but could not take advantage despite superstar Connor McDavid and Draisaitl putting shots on net.
Filip Hronek added an empty-net goal late in the game to seal a much-needed victory for the rebuilding Red Wings.
Mikko Koskinen stopped 25 shots for the Oilers, who have dropped four of their last five after opening the season 7-1.
Koskinen, who entered 5-0, gave up two goals on the first seven shots he faced before keeping his team in the game.
Speedy forward Andreas Athanasiou had a pair of breakaways for Detroit and was denied each time by Koskinen.
NOTES: Oilers general manager Ken Holland, who left Detroit when Steve Yzerman was hired to replace him earlier this year, was given an ovation during an early break in the game. … Detroit assigned RW Evgeny Svechnikov to the AHL’s Grand Rapids Griffins and recalled Joe Hicketts from the Griffins. … Detroit removed LW Adam Erne from injured reserve and put LW Justin Abdelkader on IR retroactive to Oct. 23. … McDavid played in his 300th NHL game.
UP NEXT
Oilers: Play on Wednesday at Columbus.
Red Wings: Play on Friday at Carolina.