The Detroit Red Wings came back from two goals down after the first period to defeat the Nashville Predators, 3-2, in the second game of their home-and-home series.
The win gave Detroit a sweep of the series, moved them nine points ahead of the Predators for the Central Division lead, and put them in first place in the league.
Two power play goals gave the Predators an early lead.
Just 5:35 into the game, a series of tape-to-tape passes led to Scott Hartnell getting the puck at the side of the Detroit goal with netminder Manny Legace on the other post, leaving an open net to score into.
It was the first power play goal allowed by the Red Wings after forty-straight successful penalty kills.
Paul Kariya scored with 5:04 remaining in the first period to put Nashville up by two. During a mad scramble as the puck bounced around the crease, Legace was caught to one side of the goal and Johan Franzen sprawled out between the pipes. The puck came out to the top of the crease and Kariya pounced on it, lifting a shot over Franzen and into the net.
The Red Wings bounced back in the second period, holding off the continuing Nashville attack before Robert Lang finally put one past goalie Tomas Vokoun.
With 8:16 left in the period, Lang carried the puck into the zone and around two defensemen into the right circle before firing a shot under Vokoun’s arm and into the net.
Just 1:56 later, the Red Wings tied the game when Kris Draper banged home a loose puck from the side of the goal.
Mathieu Schneider scored the game-winner with 6:31 remaining in the game, completing Detroit’s comeback. Steve Yzerman carried the puck into the Nashville zone during a line change and hesitated in the high slot. Schneider raced to catch up and picked up a drop pass before stepping in and blasting a shot over Vokoun’s shoulder.
The Predators played the final minute of the game with Vokoun on the bench for an extra attacker but were unable to even the score.
Detroit finished the game scoreless on six power play chances while Nashville scored on two of their seven tries.
Vokoun faced forty or more shots for the fourth time in the last five games, making 42 saves on 45 chances against. Legace stopped 32 of the 34 shots he faced.
The Red Wings will be back in action on Sunday when they host the Colorado Avalanche in their last game before the Olympic Break.
