Patrick Kane scored the go-ahead goal late in the second period and the host Detroit Red Wings snapped a seven-game losing streak with a 4-1 win over the Buffalo Sabres on Saturday afternoon.
Christian Fischer, Daniel Sprong and Lucas Raymond had the other goals for the Red Wings, whose last victory came on Feb. 27 against Washington. Andrew Copp added two assists.
James Reimer, who has won his last seven starts against the Sabres, made 25 saves.
Tage Thompson had the lone goal for Buffalo. Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen made 22 saves.
Detroit avenged a 7-3 road loss to the Sabres on Tuesday.
Thompson scored the only goal of the first period, his 20th this season, on a power play. With Kane in the penalty box for tripping, Thompson skated into the left circle and rifled a shot past a screened Reimer. Rasmus Dahlin and Alex Tuch had the assists.
Detroit took a 2-1 lead in the second period. Fischer scored his third goal while on his belly. Possessing the puck from behind the net, Fischer got checked by Dahlin. Fischer still managed to backhand the puck past Luukkonen for his first goal in 42 games.
Copp and Moritz Seider collected the assists.
Kane scored with 2:20 remaining in the period. His 14th goal and first in seven games was set up by J.T. Compher, who tapped the puck to the veteran forward after getting knocked to the ice. Shayne Gostisbehere was credited with the second assist.
Sprong gave the Red Wings some breathing room with 6:08 remaining in the game. He flicked a shot that deflected off a defender and fluttered past Luukkonen on the short side. Sprong’s 17th goal of the season came on Robby Fabbri’s 100th career assist.
Sprong had been deactivated for the first time this season in Detroit’s previous contest.
Raymond clinched the victory on an empty-netter with 1:07 remaining. Raymond notched his 20th goal with Michael Rasmussen collecting the assist.
–Field Level Media
