Wings Hold off Oilers for Second Win

After blowing a two-goal lead on Saturday night, the Detroit Red Wings held off a late charge from the Edmonton Oilers on Monday to earn a 4-2 win.

Mikael Samuelsson opened up the game’s scoring just 6:51 into the first period, just as a Detroit power play expired. From behind the net, Samuelsson reached around and banked a shot off of Edmonton goalie Dwayne Roloson’s skate and into the net.

Chris Chelios, who was without a goal throughout the 2006-07 regular season, scored with 5:50 remaining in the first to put the Red Wings up by two. Chelios picked up the puck from Samuelsson while jumping up towards the net, whacking away at it twice before Roloson went down and he could put the third shot over the sprawling goalie.

Only 19 seconds later, Shawn Horcoff got the Oilers on the board with a blast from the slot on a defensive breakdown by the Red Wings.

Tomas Holmstrom scored 27 seconds into the second and 14 seconds into a power play to put Detroit back up by two. A hard pass from the blue line by Lidstrom was tipped on to Holmstrom from Henrik Zetterberg in the slot. Holmstrom pounded away from the top of the crease, shoveling the puck into the net.

Rookie Andrew Cogliano scored his first career goal with 10 seconds remaining in the middle frame but it wouldn’t be enough for the Oilers. Kris Draper added an empty net goal for Detroit to hold on for the win.

Detroit’s power play went one-for-five and the Oilers were without a goal on four attempts.

Hasek made 18 saves on 20 shots while Roloson stopped 31 of 34 in the Edmonton net.

The Red Wings will be back in action on Wednesday when they host the Calgary Flames in the second game of a three-game homestand.

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With an assist on Samuelsson’s goal, Nicklas Lidstrom passed Peter Forsberg for second place all-time among Swedish-born players in NHL scoring… Chelios skated in his 1550th career game, breaking a tie with Alex Delvecchio for eighth place in career games played.