Pulkkinen’s Pair Leads Red Wings Over Hurricanes

Despite being outshot by a wide margin, the Detroit Red Wings rode two third-period goals by Teemu Pulkkinen to a 4-3 win over the Carolina Hurricanes on Saturday night.

Detroit trailed 2-1 heading into the final frame but Pulkkinen tied things up at 4:39 of the period. Carolina defender Ron Hainsey won a puck battle along the end boards and attempted to clear it through the slot, but Pulkkinen had jumped up and picked off the pass, banging a shot past goalie Cam Ward to make it 2-2.

Just 1:57 later, Pulkkinen deflected a shot from Tomas Tatar at the top of the left faceoff circle past Ward to give the Red Wings the lead.

With 3:35 remaining in regulation, Justin Abdelkader rifled a shot from the slot past Ward off a feed from behind the goal by Henrik Zetterberg to make it 4-2.

Carolina cut the lead to one goal with three seconds left in the game, as Justin Faulk blasted a shot from the top of the right circle past Detroit goalie Petr Mrazek while on the power play.

After a scoreless first period in which the Red Wings were outshot 18-2, Zetterberg got the Red Wings on the board with 8:27 left in the middle frame on just their sixth shot. Zetterberg cut in front of the net from the left of Ward and put a shot past him to make it 1-0.

The Hurricanes responded with 4:48 left in the period when Victor Rask banged home the rebound of a Noah Hanafin shot.

Nathan Gerbe tipped a Ryan Murphy shot past Mrazek from the edge of the crease with 57 seconds left in the period to make it 2-1.

Mrazek finished the night with 44 saves on 47 shots. Ward stopped 15 of 19.

The Hurricanes had six power play tries and scored once. Detroit had one chance with the extra attacker.

The Red Wings are now off until Tuesday when they host the Tampa Bay Lightning.