National Hockey League
Detroit 4, Montreal 3
When: 7:30 PM ET, Tuesday, January 7, 2020
Where: Little Caesars Arena, Detroit, Michigan
Referees: Garrett Rank, Graham Skilliter
Linesmen: Devin Berg, Ryan Gibbons
Attendance: 17538

Frans Nielsen scored two goals and the host Detroit Red Wings scored three third-period goals to collect their third victory this season over the Montreal Canadiens, 4-3, on Tuesday.

Filip Zadina scored what proved to be the game-winner for Detroit, which has only eight other wins besides its victories over the Canadiens. Robby Fabbri also scored for the Wings while Jonathan Bernier made 23 saves.

Nick Suzuki had a goal and an assist for Montreal. Artturi Lehkonen and Victor Mete also scored for the Canadiens, while Charlie Lindgren stopped 26 shots.

Montreal scored the only goal of the first period. Lehkonen scored an unassisted shorthanded goal when he stole a Filip Hronek pass in his own zone and slipped a low shot past Bernier on a breakaway.

Montreal made it 2-0 at 6:31 in the second period. The Canadiens had a 5-on-3 opportunity, thanks to two Detroit penalties. Max Domi worked the puck to Suzuki, who tapped in the puck from the side of the net. Ilya Kovalchuk was also credited with an assist.

The Red Wings made it a one-goal game again at 12:22 of the period. Nielsen scored his second goal of the season on a rebound. Givani Smith, who also had a rebound attempt, was credited with the first point of his career.

Detroit tied it at 2-all in the first minute of the third period. Dylan Larkin forced a turnover in the Montreal zone. Tyler Bertuzzi then fed the puck to Fabbri in the slot. Fabbri's shot banged off the inside of the goalpost and into the net.

Mete and his team caught a break to put Montreal back on top at 6:13 of the third. He was trying to pass the puck from the right circle. It deflected off Hronek's skate and past Bernier.

Nielsen got behind the defense off a feed from Mike Green at 11:19 to tie it again. Nielsen backhanded the puck past the prone Lindgren.

Zadina gave Detroit its first lead with 3:52 remaining. Adam Erne shoveled the puck from behind the net to Zadina in front, who wristed it past Lindgren's right pad.

--Field Level Media

Top Game Performances
 
Montreal   Detroit
Nick Suzuki 2 Points Frans Nielsen 2
Nick Suzuki 1 Goals Frans Nielsen 2
Ilya Kovalchuk 2 Assists Tyler Bertuzzi 1
Nick Suzuki 1 Power Play Goals N/A
Artturi Lehkonen 1 Short Handed Goals N/A
Charlie Lindgren .867 Save Percentage Jonathan Bernier .885
Charlie Lindgren 26 Saves Jonathan Bernier 23
Team Stats Summary
 
Team Shots Goals Power Play Penalty Kill Penalty Mins Face Offs Won
Montreal 26 3 1-5 4-4 8 25
Detroit 30 4 0-4 4-5 10 31
Upcoming Games
  • Detroit will play their next game at home against Ottawa. The Red Wings have a W/L % of .400 after a win and .206 after a loss.
  • Montreal will play their next game at home against Edmonton. The Canadiens have a W/L % of .421 after a win and .400 after a loss.