RANGERS 2, RED WINGS 1 (OT): Captain Ryan Callahan celebrated his 27th birthday in style by scoring 2:42 into overtime as host New York handed Original Six rival Detroit its season high-tying sixth straight loss.
Brad Richards netted a power-play goal for his 15th point in March and All-Star Henrik Lundqvist turned aside 26 shots for the Rangers, who moved three points clear of idle Pittsburgh atop both the Atlantic Division and Eastern Conference standings.
Henrik Zetterberg snapped a five-game goal drought and Ty Conklin finished with 32 saves for the Red Wings, who picked up a point to move past idle Nashville and into fourth place in the Western Conference. Detroit is 0-4-2 in its last six games.
In overtime, Callahan accepted a feed from defenseman Michael Del Zotto in the slot and wired a shot off the post and into the net. Callahan's 27th goal was his eighth game-winner of the season.
Zetterberg opened the scoring 3:36 into the first period. Defenseman Ian White fed Zetterberg, who skated along the edge of the right faceoff circle before wristing a shot which sailed between the pads of Lundqvist. The tally was Zetterberg's 19th.
Richards leveled the contest with 5:02 remaining in the first after a brilliant individual effort. Richards skated up the middle of the ice, deked defenseman Niklas Kronwall before tucking the puck between the pads of Conklin.
GAME NOTEBOOK: Conklin was making his first start for the Red Wings since Feb. 4. He cleared waivers and was recalled from the American Hockey League. ... Lundqvist recorded his second assist of the season on Richards' tally. The netminder simply left the puck for Richards, who did the rest of the work. ... Detroit plays six of its remaining eight contests at home. ... The Red Wings are 3-7-2 without captain Nicklas Lidstrom.
Detroit | NY Rangers | |
Henrik Zetterberg 1 | Points | Ryan Callahan 1 |
Henrik Zetterberg 1 | Goals | Ryan Callahan 1 |
Gustav Nyquist 1 | Assists | Michael Del Zotto 1 |
N/A | Power Play Goals | Brad Richards 1 |
N/A | Short Handed Goals | N/A |
Ty Conklin .941 | Save Percentage | Henrik Lundqvist .963 |
Ty Conklin 32 | Saves | Henrik Lundqvist 26 |
Team | Shots | Goals | Power Play | Penalty Kill | Penalty Mins | Face Offs Won |
Detroit | 27 | 1 | 0-1 | 2-3 | 6 | 37 |
NY Rangers | 34 | 2 | 1-3 | 1-1 | 2 | 17 |