Red Wings finish shutout; Blue Jackets get win at home

Detroit's Howard makes 22 saves, wins against Edmonton

Red Wings defenseman Jakub Kindl, left, celebrates his goal with defenseman Niklas Kronwall, center, and forward Joakim Andersson, right, in the second period.

DETROIT — Jimmy Howard made 22 saves, and Jakub Kindl and Cory Emmerton scored in the second period to lift the Detroit Red Wings over the Edmonton Oilers 3-0 on Thursday night.

Justin Abdelkader’s empty-net goal put the game out of reach.

Howard made 36 saves in a win Tuesday against Colorado, but coach Mike Babcock wasn’t all that impressed with his team’s overall performance that night. The Red Wings were sharper defensively against Edmonton and took control in the second period, when they outshot the Oilers 15-7.

Detroit is 10-0-1 in its last 11 regular-season games against Edmonton.

The Red Wings have gone five games without allowing a goal in the first or second period, and the Oilers didn’t do much to threaten that streak. Edmonton is 0-3-1 in its last four games.

After a scoreless first period — a shot off the crossbar by Detroit’s Kyle Quincey was the only noteworthy moment — the Red Wings looked a bit more energized in the second.

Jordin Tootoo fought with Edmonton’s Mike Brown early in the period, and Kindl opened the scoring less than a minute later.

Kindl was caught between two Oilers when he managed a shot that slipped through goalie Devan Dubnyk and trickled across the line for a 1-0 lead.

The Red Wings added another goal after some sustained pressure when Emmerton took a pass from Drew Miller and beat Dubnyk high to the stick side from the slot.

Howard had to make a couple of terrific saves against the Avalanche and came within 90 seconds of a shutout in that game. He wasn't tested as much by Edmonton, even after the Oilers pulled their goalie with more than 2 minutes remaining.

Abdelkader’s empty-netter was his first goal of the season.

BLUE JACKETS 2, CANUCKS 1

COLUMBUS — Matt Calvert carried the puck almost from end to end, twice avoiding opposing players, before skating to the slot and scoring on a rising wrist shot to give the Blue Jackets an overtime win.

Calvert took a pass from Fedor Tyutin deep in the defensive zone and chipped the puck along the right boards while twice fighting off defenders.

He then went unimpeded to the right hash before whipping the puck high over the glove side of goalie Cory Schneider.

Sergei Bobrovsky had 34 saves and R.J. Umberger also scored for the Blue Jackets, who have points in their last five games and have won three in a row — both season highs.

Henrik Sedin tied the game early in the third period for Vancouver. Schneider finished with 25 saves.

Bobrovsky was brilliant all night, covering up for several giveaways by his teammates.

Down 1-0 going into the third period, the Canucks, who lead the Northwest Division but are just 1-3-2 in their last six games, tied it after just over a minute had elapsed.

Later, Sedin lifted the puck above a sprawling Bobrovsky for his fifth goal of the season, extending his points streak to six games. Sedin has three goals and five assists during the streak.