Backlund goal lifts Flames over Red Wings
DETROIT -- Mikael Backlund's goal in the third period broke a tie and gave the Calgary Flames a 3-2 win over the Detroit Red Wings on Sunday night at Joe Louis Arena.
Garnet Hathaway got his first career goal and Matt Stajan also scored for Calgary (8-11-1 ). Defenseman Dougie Hamilton had three assists and Chad Johnson stopped 21 shots.
Tomas Tatar and Anthony Mantha scored for Detroit (8-10-1), which lost its fourth straight. Jimmy Howard made 23 saves.
Backlund broke a 2-2 tie with 7:46 left. He slammed Michael Frolik's pass from the left circle past Howard and into the open side of the net. It was Backlund's second goal.
Mantha tied the game 2-2 at 7:59 of the third period. He put a snap shot under the crossbar on the short side after bringing the puck from behind the net. It was Mantha's first goal of the season.
Stajan gave the Flames a 2-1 lead 2:31 into the third period with his first goal of the season. He tipped in Hamilton's slap shot from the right point.
Hathaway tied it 1-1 early in the second period. Hathaway, who was beside the net and battling with a Red Wings player, got the shaft of his stick on a high shot -- by Hamilton from the top of the right circle -- and deflected it into the empty side of the net.
Tatar gave Detroit a 1-0 lead 8:06 into the game. He blindly slid a puck toward the net from the high slot that beat Johnson. It was Tatar's third goal and only his second in 14 games.
Howard was forced to make a couple saves on in close scoring chances after Red Wings giveaways deep in their zone.
Red Wings defenseman Alexey Marchenko left the game with an upper-body injury after taking a hit from Calgary's Michael Ferland with a little less than 5:30 left in the second period.
NOTES: Detroit LW Thomas Vanek returned after missing 11 games with a hip injury. The Red Wings were 3-7-1 without Vanek and averaged less than two goals per game. He had four goals and eight points in seven games before being injured. ... Calgary F Johnny Gaudreau missed his second game after suffering a broken finger from a slash from the Minnesota Wild's C Eric Staal. Gaudreau will miss six-to-eight-weeks. ... Red Wings C Darren Helm missed his second game after dislocating his shoulder. He will also be out six-to-eight weeks. ... Sunday night's game was the start of a six-game road trip for Calgary.