Wings blank Oilers 3-0 in the Motor City

Edmonton's Eric Belanger dumps the puck in on Detroit's Ian White during second period action at Joe Louis Arena on Nov. 11, 2011. The Red Wings won the game 3-0. (Photo by Getty Images.)

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Detroit's Drew Miller, Niklas Kronwall and Valtteri Filppula each scored, while Jimmy Howard stopped all 24 attempts to blank the Oilers 3-0 Friday night at Joe Louis Arena.

Nikolai Khabibulin got the start in goal, posting 27 saves in his first regulation-time loss of 2011-12.

FIRST PERIOD

Looking to create a more balanced road attack, the Oilers and Red Wings combined to record a mere three shots in the game's opening six minutes.

The orange and blue choreographed the best chance when Ryan Nugent-Hopkins helped create a 2-on-1 chance between Taylor Hall and Jordan Eberle, but goal (let alone a shot) couldn't be cashed.

Following the slow start, the Oilers began to push. A strong, minute-long sequence by the team's 94-10-83 connection helped Ladislav Smid wind up with a pair of quality chances, but were both turned aside by Red Wings starter Jimmy Howard.

At 10:35, however, and on Detroit's fourth shot, the Red Wings pulled ahead. A centering pass by Patrick Eaves pinballed off the skates of Jeff Petry and Tom Gilbert into the slot; Drew Miller was there to pounce, snapping the puck behind an ill-prepared Nikolai Khabibulin to put the home side up 1-0.

A tripping minor to Theo Peckham at 15:30 put the Red Wings' 18.5-percent power-play to work. Point-blank chances by Nick Lidstrom, Dan Cleary and Johan Franzen propelled Detroit to an 11-9 shot advantage, but the Oilers' 86.9-percent PK, along with the heroics of Khabibulin, helped best the Wings' attack.

With 20 minutes expired, the Oilers continued to trail 1-0.

SECOND PERIOD

It didn't take for the Red Wings to extend the lead. Just 2:05 into the period, Niklas Kronwall stepped into a bullet at the point, beating Khabibulin upstairs, blocker-side, to make it a 2-0 game.

In need of a spark, Lennart Petrell provided it 46 seconds later. The 27-year-old rookie dropped the mitts with Detroit's Justin Abdelkader in a spirited and highly-entertaining bout. Petrell was a little too agressive, however; he was assessed a minor for instigating, plus an additional minor for insigating with a visor.

As a result, the Red Wings were put on an extended four-minute power-play.

Having already made 12 saves on the night, Khabibulin came up big. Henrik Zetterberg, who was a game-time decision, drove the net and created a gold-star rebound opportunity for Franzen. No. 93 snapped a quick shot, but the 38-year-old 'tender robbed him with his pad to keep the game within reach.

With 10:48 remaining, the Oilers came oh-so-close to drawing within one. Andy Sutton stepped into a slapper at the near circle, but Howard went into the splits to make a sensational glove save, preserving his club's two-goal edge.

At 11:40, the Oilers went to the power-play when the home side was charged with too many men. The chance allowed the orange and blue to pull even on the shot clock (15-15), but were unable to manufacture a goal.

With 4:18 on the clock, Lidstrom, a seven-time Norris winner, cranked a shot that struck iron on Khabibulin's blocker side; while the crowd rose in celebration, the game remained in a 2-0 score.

Sutton was charged with high-sticking Detroit's Darren Helm at 19:45, putting the Red Wings on their fourth power-play attempt. 1:44, along with the home team's 2-0 lead, would be carried into the third period. With 40 minutes in the books, the Red Wings also held a slim 20-16 edge in shots.

THIRD PERIOD

Following a kill to start the period, the Oilers then went to the attack. A well-planned 2-on-1 chance emerged for Ryan Jones and Eric Belanger 2:10 in. No. 28 dished to veteran centre, but his one-time attempt caught Howard's blocker-side post.

At 3:07, Kronwall was charged with holding, putting the Oilers on their third power-play chance. The visitors peppered Howard with four shots, but were unable to solve the 27-year-old.

The parade to the box continued at 6:04 when the Oilers went back to the man-disadvantage; Tom Gilbert's interference minor put the Red Wings' 0-for-5 power-play back onto the ice. With 19 seconds remaining, the PP vaulted to a two-man advantage; Ryan Jones was assessed a minor for slashing.

Numerous saves by Khabibulin and a consistent box-out by the Oilers' D prevented the home side from damaging the scoreboard.

With 5:08 remaining, the Red Wings scored an insurance marker. Zetterberg and Valtteri Filppula broke in a 2-on-1 against Ladislav Smid. Detroit's No. 40 placed a well-executed saucer pass across, and Filppula connected with a backhand tip, putting his club up 3-0.

The remaining minutes elapsed without incident as the Oilers dropped a 3-0 score to the Red Wings in Detroit.

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