Red Wings Hold Off Flames for 4-3 Win

Despite surrendering a 2-0 lead in the second period, the Detroit Red Wings held off a late push by the Calgary Flames on Friday night to pick up a 4-3 win.

Joakim Andersson threw a shot towards the net from below the goal line in the right-wing corner at just 1:25 of the third period. The puck deflected off a skate and slipped past Calgary goalie and former Red Wing Joey MacDonald to put Detroit up 3-2.

Justin Abdelkader scored the eventual game-winner with 3:24 remaining in the period, wristing a shot from the bottom of the left faceoff circle over MacDonald and into the top of the net.

With MacDonald on the bench for an extra attacker, Curtis Glencross made it 4-3 with just 10 seconds remaining, throwing the puck to the front of the net from behind the goal. It deflected off of Niklas Kronwall and slipped past Detroit netminder Jimmy Howard to round out the game’s scoring.

Pavel Datsyuk had gotten the Red Wings on the board with 9:03 left in the opening period. Jakub Kindl’s shot from the blue line was stopped but MacDonald couldn’t control the rebound, with the puck coming to Datsyuk in the slot for a chance into the open side of the net.

Henrik Zetterberg made it 2-0 with 2:45 left in the period, fed by Todd Bertuzzi on a cross-crease pass for a shot into the vacated net before MacDonald could get back across.

With 9:45 left in the middle frame, Chris Butler got the Flames on the board. On a broken play the puck came out to Butler at the blue line. As he drifted towards the high slot he unleashed a shot that deflected off Joakim Andersson and past Howard to make it 2-1.

Rookie Sean Monahan tied things up 2:32 later when he was left untouched driving through the left circle to take a pass from Mike Cammalleri and snap a shot past Howard.

Howard would finish the night with 22 saves on 25 shots against. MacDonald made 18 saves on 22 Detroit chances.

Neither team scored on the power play on the night. Detroit had three tries with the man-advantage to Calgary’s five.

The Red Wings continue their Western Canadian road trip on Saturday in Edmonton.

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Johan Franzen left the game after the second period with flu-like symptoms… Petr Mrazek was called up before the game to back up Jimmy Howard, as Jonas Gustavsson suffered a strained neck during warm-ups in Vancouver on Wednesday… Prior to the game the Red Wings announced the signing of 2013 draft pick Zach Nastasiuk to a three-year entry-level contract.