Banged-up Red Wings beat Oilers 2-1 in a shootout

3/14/2014

DETROIT — Tomas Tatar scored on Detroit’s third shootout attempt, and Jimmy Howard stopped all three Edmonton attempts to lift the Detroit Red Wings to a 2-1 win over the Oilers on Friday night.

Edmonton’s Ryan Smyth tied the game midway through the third period. Smyth scored on a shot from the slot that was set up by Detroit defenseman Brendan Smith’s backhanded giveaway.

Riley Sheahan put the Red Wings ahead 1-0 late in the first period. They lost the lead and failed to take advantage of power plays late in regulation and midway through overtime.

The banged-up Red Wings are trying to reach the postseason for a 23rd straight time.

Edmonton has the worst record in the Western Conference and isn’t far from being eliminated from the playoff race for the eighth straight season.