Penguins Stumble Again, Lose To Red Wings 5-2
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DETROIT (AP) - Luke Glendening scored twice, Darren Helm matched his career high with three points and the Detroit Red Wings beat the Pittsburgh Penguins 5-2 on Tuesday night.
Helm had a goal and two assists, and Frans Nielsen and Niklas Kronwall also scored for Detroit. Jimmy Howard made 22 saves to help the Red Wings win in regulation for the first time since a 3-1 victory over the Carolina Hurricanes on Feb. 24.
Sidney Crosby and Kris Letang scored for the Penguins. Matt Murray stopped 21 shots.
It took Pittsburgh 38 seconds to gain the lead. Crosby took Jake Guentzel's cross-ice feed and snapped a shot before Howard could get across.
The Red Wings pulled even 17:43 into opening period. Helm found Kronwall pinching down from the point, and Kronwall whipped a quick shot past Murray.
Detroit grabbed the lead on the power play at 14:28 of the second period. Martin Frk faked a shot, then zipped the puck across the ice to Nielsen, whose high shot eluded the sprawling Murray.
Just 41 seconds later, Detroit made it 3-1 when Glendening deflected Nick Jensen's point shot.
The Red Wings added another goal 6:21 into the third period when Helm converted Dylan Larkin's feed for his 10th.
Letang's point shot found its way through traffic and behind Howard with 3:16 left in regulation.
Glendening finished the scoring into an empty net with 1:28 to play.
NOTES: Red Wings GM Ken Holland would not confirm reports that he and coach Jeff Blashill would return next season, saying only that the question would be answered by the end of the season. ... The Penguins are the first visiting team to lose twice at Little Caesars Arena. They also fell 4-1 in Detroit on Dec. 31. ... Kronwall's goal was his 400th point and 80th goal, the latter tying him with Hall of Famer Marcel Pronovost for fourth on the Red Wings' career list among defensemen. ... Red Wings D Joe Hicketts had two assists for his first NHL points in his second game.
UP NEXT
Penguins: At New Jersey on Thursday night.
Red Wings: At Buffalo on Thursday night.
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