Red Wings 4, Predators 3 (OT)
Dan Cleary scored on a deflection at 2:58 of overtime as the visiting Detroit Red Wings rallied from a three-goal deficit to post a 4-3 triumph over the Nashville Predators on Saturday afternoon.
Justin Abdelkader notched two goals, defenseman Jakub Kindl also tallied and Jimmy Howard returned from a shoulder injury to make 31 saves for the Red Wings, who clinched a playoff spot and increased their lead over the Predators in the Central Division to five points.
Blue-liner Ryan Suter, Martin Erat and Sergei Kostitsyn scored while Pekka Rinne stopped 37 shots for Nashville, which lost for just the third time in 12 games.
After Kostitsyn extended his point streak to nine games at 2:37 of the second period, Detroit began its comeback 51 seconds later as Kindl scored off a turnover. Abdelkader got the Red Wings even, tallying 81 seconds afterward and again at 3:59 of the third to complete his second career two-goal performance.
In overtime, defenseman Brian Rafalski unleashed a shot from the left point that Cleary deflected past Rinne for the game-winner. The victory was just the second in seven contests for the Red Wings.
Suter beat Howard with a blast from the top of the slot during a two-man advantage with a minute remaining in the first period to put Nashville ahead. Erat and Kostitsyn scored 55 seconds apart early in the second for a 3-0 lead.