Nielsen scores in shootout as Red Wings edge Senators
OTTAWA -- Frans Nielsen scored the only goal in the shootout as the Detroit Red Wings defeated the Ottawa Senators 2-1 at Canadian Tire Centre on Saturday night.
The win improved the Red Wings to 2-0-0, while the Senators dropped to 0-0-2.
Rookie winger Martin Frk scored his second goal of the season with 2:34 left in the third period to break a scoreless deadlock, but the lead was short-lived. Just 43 seconds later, Dion Phaneuf scored an unassisted goal.
Jimmy Howard made 37 saves for the Red Wings, while Senators goaltender Craig Anderson stopped 29 shots.
Frk scored after taking a short pass from Dylan Larkin before beating Anderson with a low shot to the glove side.
Phaneuf tied it when he intercepted a clearing attempt at the Red Wings' blue line and sent a shot toward the net that went between Howard's pads.
Both Howard and Anderson stopped all 14 shots they faced in the second period, leaving the game scoreless through 40 minutes. Mike Hoffman and Mark Stone each hit a post during Ottawa power plays, while Howard made his best stop on Kyle Turris.
Anderson made the highlight save of the night during the middle session when he dove to his left to stop an in-close shot by Justin Abdelkader.
The Senators were unable to capitalize on four power plays in the first period, during which they outshot the Red Wings 11-10.
The Red Wings continue an early-season, four-game road trip when they visit the Dallas Stars on Tuesday. The Senators start their own three-game trek through western Canada on Tuesday in Vancouver.
NOTES: Without D Erik Karlsson (ankle) and D Johnny Oduya (lower body), the Senators recalled D Ben Harpur, who in 2016-17 played six games for them in the regular season and nine in the playoffs. ... Although he's listed as day-to-day, Karlsson said he wasn't sure if he'd be accompanying the team on its three-game road trip that starts Tuesday in Vancouver. ... Red Wings D Niklas Kronwall (groin) practiced Saturday morning but did not play ... Senators LW Alex Formenton, who turned 18 on Sept. 13, made his NHL debut as the youngest player in franchise history. ... Playing his first game for the Red Wings was RW Luke Witkowski, a former sixth-round pick of the Tampa Bay Lightning who signed with Detroit as a free agent in the offseason. ... Red Wings LW David Booth was a healthy scratch, while the Senators lone healthy scratch was C Logan Brown.