Detroit defeats Buffalo 3-2 in OT for a season sweep

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The Detroit Red Wings took two and a half periods to wake up before earning a 3-2 OT win in Buffalo – the win enabled the Red Wings to sweep the season series 4-0 against the Sabres this year.

The game started off rather slow with Buffalo scoring on an offensive faceoff win in the Detroit zone.  Buffalo outshot Detroit 7-5 in the first period.

There were no goals in the second period with Detroit outshooting the Sabres 10-8.

Buffalo outworked Detroit down low for a scoring chance then scored on the rebound with just over 10 minutes to play in the third.  Detroit looked down and out after challenging the goal and being unsuccessful.  Buffalo went to the power play.

Vladislav Namestnikov started the scoring for Detroit at the midway mark of the third.  Tyler Bertuzzi cleared the puck up to Moritz Seider for a 2-on-1 shorthanded break for the Red Wings.  Seider made a perfect pass to Namestnikov who faked a shot and deaked the Buffalo goalie to make it 2-1 Sabres.

Robby Fabbri was flying in the third period and made a terrific body check in the offensive zone that created a looose puck.  Fabbri promptly passed the puck into the slot where Larkin was cruising after coming off the bench.  Larkin burried a shot past the Buffalo goalie to send the game into OT.

Fabbri and Larkin were all over the Buffalo players in the offensive zone during OT.  Nick Leddy made a perfect pass to Larkin who immediately drained the puck into the net for his second of the game and a Detroit come-from-behind victory.

Dylan Larkin was first star of the game with two goals including his team leading 18th.  Vladislav Namestnikov scored Detroit’s third short-handed goal in three games, his 11th goal of the season and was awarded third star of the game.

Alex Nedeljkovic was steady in goal for the Red Wings and earned his 12th victory.  He was 26/28 in saves and now has a record of 12-10-4.  Nedeljkovic will be heavily counted on going down the stretch as backup goaltender Thomas Greiss was just placed in COVID-19 protocol.

It was another much need victory for Detroit and vaults the team over .500 once again with a 18-17-5 record.  The Red Wings are now five points behind Boston for the final wild card playoff spot in the Eastern Conference.

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