Red Wings beat Sabres 5-4 in SO on Brad Richards' goal

DETROIT (AP) The Detroit Red Wings followed their recent trend of giving up game-tying goals in the third period.

They gave up another goal, too, to fall behind before rallying to extend the game and eventually win it.

Brad Richards scored on Detroit's third attempt in a shootout and Jack Eichel missed the net on the ensuing chance, as the Red Wings beat the Buffalo Sabres 5-4 on Tuesday night.

Justin Abdelkader's second goal with 6:29 to go in regulation pulled the Red Wings into a 4-all tie after they blew a pair of two-goal leads and a one-goal advantage in the third.

''That was a wild game for sure,'' Abdelkader said. ''I thought we dominated and had some good chances there throughout the game. Obviously, we gave a little too much defensively.''

The Red Wings gave up a game-tying score in the third period for the fifth straight game, then needed Abdelkader's goal to avoid losing in regulation.

''I thought it was a big character period,'' said Detroit's Drew Miller, who scored his first goal of the season. ''We kind of gave away a couple games here in the past. To get that one back was big for us.''

Evander Kane had his second goal in the opening minute of the third and Zach Bogosian had a go-ahead score 1:29 later for the Sabres, whose up-tempo game gave Detroit problems.

''When you're down 2-0, you have to go after it,'' Buffalo coach Dan Bylsma said. ''And, I think you saw that in how the game was played up and down the ice. We had to fight back.''

Linus Ullmark made 42 saves for the Sabres. Detroit's Petr Mrazek stopped 28 shots.

Each goaltender stopped the first two shots he faced in the shootout before Richards scored and Eichel missed.

Buffalo had a 4-on-3 power play midway through the five-minute overtime after Gustav Nyquist was called for tripping. Kane was inches away from taking advantage, but his shot hit the left post.

''We did fight, but we didn't get it done,'' Kane said.

The Red Wings have an eight-game point streak, their longest since going 12 straight games with a point in 2010. Buffalo hasn't won in Detroit since 2006.

The game featured two of the NHL's top rookies, Eichel and Detroit's Dylan Larkin. They were teammates for USA Hockey's national team development program during from 2012 to 2014.

''We won a (under-18) world championship together,'' Larkin said. ''I'd say we're pretty close.''

Detroit dominated early, scoring on Tomas Tatar's backhander 1:34 into the game, and outshooting Buffalo 5-0. The Sabres responded with a flurry of shots, but Mrazek made six saves in about a minute to keep the Red Wings ahead.

The Red Wings went ahead 2-0 midway through the first when Jonathan Ericsson's fluttering shot appeared to go off Abdelkader's right shoulder and left arm and over Ullmark.

''We weren't ready to play,'' said Buffalo defenseman Rasmus Ristolainen, who matched his career high with three assists.

Kane scored his first of two goals - matching the number he had in his first 14 games this season - late in the first period. With speed and strength, Bylsma said Kane was ''dominant in a couple areas,'' against the Red Wings.

Miller's first goal of the season early in the second restored Detroit's two-goal lead.

''It's nice to get the first one out of the way - finally,'' Miller said.

Buffalo's Zemgus Girgensons cut the deficit to a goal late in the second.

NOTES: Tatar had five goals and three assists in the previous nine games. ... Buffalo scratched D Mike Weber, who has missed 11 straight games with a knee injury. ... Abdelkader and Josh Gorges dropped their gloves and fought late in the second period. ... Richards had a team-low 13 shifts and team-low 10-plus minutes of ice time.

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