Red Wings Kick Off Road Trip with Win

The Detroit Red Wings started their four-game western road trip with a 3-1 win over the Los Angeles Kings Monday night. The win extended their unbeaten streak against the Kings to 12 games.

Detroit netminder Chris Osgood, making his first appearance of the season, made 22 saves on 23 shots to earn the victory.

Los Angeles scored the game’s first goal on a miscue by Osgood. Handcuffed on a shot by Aaron Miller, Osgood let the rebound fall to the top of the crease. Former Red Wing Sean Avery and rookie Anze Kopitar rushed in to put it past the sprawling Detroit goalie with only 45 seconds remaining in the first period.

The Red Wings evened the score midway through the second with Jason Williams off for hooking.

Johan Franzen and Kris Draper carried the puck to the Kings’ blue line on a two-on-two when LA defenseman Rob Blake left Draper to put a big hit on Franzen. Franzen held the puck just long enough to get it to Draper, who skated in all alone to beat Kings netminder Dan Cloutier.

Just 1:37 into the third, a power play goal gave Detroit the lead. With Robert Lang controlling the puck at a bad angle to his right, Cloutier tried to cheat to the middle, but Lang threaded the puck just inside the post for his first of the season.

Lang scored again with 3:58 remaining in the game, locking up the Detroit win.

The Red Wings finished the night 1-for-5 on the power play and killed all eight of the Kings’ chances with the man-advantage.

Cloutier stopped 24 of Detroit’s 27 shots.

Detroit will be back in action on Wednesday when they visit the Anaheim Ducks.

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The Red Wings haven’t lost to Los Angeles since October 12, 2002.