Alex DeBrincat scored the go-ahead goal and assisted on Detroit’s two other goals as the host Red Wings notched a 3-1 victory over the Montreal Canadiens on Thursday.
DeBrincat gave Detroit a 2-1 lead with 3:25 remaining in the game. J.T. Compher scored earlier in the period and Andrew Copp added an empty-net goal with 16.8 seconds remaining.
John Gibson made 32 saves for the Red Wings (38-23-8, 84 points). Detroit also won the season series, 2-1.
Juraj Slafkovsky scored the Canadiens’ lone goal on a second-period power play. Jakub Dobes made 25 saves for Montreal (37-21-10, 84 points).
DeBrincat scored his pivotal goal on a backhander after Canadiens defenseman Mike Matheson lost the puck in his zone.
The Red Wings once again played without centers Dylan Larkin and Michael Rasmussen. Team captain Larkin, who has a lower body injury, has missed six straight games.
The Wings went on the power play early in the second period when Alexandre Carrier was called for holding. But the Canadiens had the only two shots on goal during the ensuing two minutes.
Detroit got another power-play chance eight minutes into the period when Lane Hutson was penalized for interference. The Red Wings had four shots on goal during that power play but still came up empty.
Red Wings defenseman Moritz Seider was sent to the box for holding Jake Evans’ with 2:28 left in the second period. That led to a breakthrough, as Montreal scored with 2:15 left in the period.
After the penalty was called, the Canadiens won the ensuing faceoff and Slafkovsky scored in the slot on a rebound of a Cole Caufield shot. Nick Suzuki was credited with the second assist.
Detroit tied it at 1-1 at 2:14 of the third period. Patrick Kane took a shot from the point that fluttered through traffic and bounced off Compher, who was parked at the goalpost. DeBrincat collected the second assist.
Copp scored an empty-netter in the final minute to clinch the Red Wings’ win.
