Pickard powers Detroit past Pittsburgh in 3-2 shootout win

Calvin Pickard was stellar between the pipes for the Detroit Red Wings, securing a shootout victory on the road against the Pittsburgh Penguins.

First Period

Detroit was the better team through the first twenty minutes, outshooting Pittsburgh 11-4 and, more importantly, went to the locker room with a 1-0 lead.

It was Givani Smith that found the back of the net for the Wings. He collected a rebound at the front of the net and spun around, slipping the puck past the goaltender.

After a rough stretch, the Red Wings defensemen were surprisingly solid in the first, stifling the Pens offensive breakaways and transitioning quickly.

Second Period

Pittsburgh looked to even things up quickly, applying more pressure in the offensive zone. Michael Rasmussen gave the Penguins a chance to capitalize on their momentum with a power play, crosschecking Mike Matheson. Pittsburgh finally converted after about a minute of sustained o-zone pressure, tying up the game at 1-1.

The Red Wings responded with a power play goal of their own ten minutes later. Filip Zadina finally broke his goalless spell, backhanding a rebound at the front of the net.

Third period

The Pens find the game-tying goal just 27 seconds into the third. Pittsburgh got a chance to take the lead halfway through the period with a power play, but Detroit’s penalty kill came up strong.

Neither found the game winning goal in regulation, although the Penguins certainly tilted the ice toward the Wings defensive zone in the final half.

Overtime

Both teams had their fair share of scoring chances in overtime (a stellar save from Casey DeSmith stole a goal from Dylan Larkin), but the goaltenders both strong and neither team could find the game winner.

Shootout

Lucas Raymond was the lone goal-scorer for the Red Wings in the shootout, but Pickard stopped all three of the Pens attempts.

The win snaps a three-game losing streak for Detroit. The Wings return home tomorrow night to face the Toronto Maple Leafs.