Red Wings 3, Blackhawks 2 (SO)
Tomas Tatar scored his team-leading 24th goal in regulation and netted the decisive tally in the third round of the shootout as visiting Detroit snapped its three-game skid (0-2-1).
Chicago captain Jonathan Toews' wrist shot caromed off the crossbar and into the net in the first round of the bonus format, but Gustav Nyquist answered by tucking the puck between the pads of Corey Crawford (26 saves) in the second. Tatar made a series of moves before backhanding the puck over Crawford's glove in the third round and Jimmy Howard (32 saves) denied Patrick Sharp to record his first shootout victory in eight tries this season.
Darren Helm collected a goal and an assist for the Red Wings, who swept the two-game season series between the Original Six rivals. Pavel Datsyuk and Riley Sheahan each notched an assist in the victory.
Kris Versteeg forged a 2-2 tie with 1:23 remaining in the third period as his shot from the point banked off both the glove of Howard and the upper body of Detroit defenseman Niklas Kronwall before crossing the goal line. Brandon Saad scored to extend his point streak to four games for the Blackhawks, who fell to 4-0-3 in their last seven contests.
Despite being outshot 24-11, Detroit drew first blood with 3:50 remaining in the second period as Helm deftly backhanded a no-look pass across the goal crease for an easy conversion by Tatar. Chicago responded 39 seconds later as Saad's wrist shot from above the right faceof circle sailed inside the left post, but the Red Wings claimed a 2-1 lead with 2:06 to play as Helm's shot from in close banked off the left knee of Blackhawks defenseman Brent Seabrook and into the net.
GAME NOTEBOOK: Saad has collected two goals and three assists during his point streak. ... Detroit LW Teemu Pulkkinen registered four shots in his first game since being recalled from Grand Rapids of the American Hockey League. ... The Red Wings failed on their lone power-play opportunity after going 7-for-20 with the man advantage in the previous six games. ... Chicago has killed off 15-of-16 short-handed situations over its last nine contests.