Rookie Sheahan Leads Red Wings Past LA Kings 3-1
LOS ANGELES (AP) -- Riley Sheahan scored his first NHL goal and assisted on Tomas Tatar's tiebreaking goal with 7:54 to play in the Detroit Red Wings' 3-1 victory over the Los Angeles Kings on Saturday night.
Daniel Cleary also scored in the third period, and Jimmy Howard made 44 saves as the Red Wings slowed their recent slump by sending Los Angeles to its seventh loss in nine games.
Drew Doughty scored his first goal in a month during a two-man advantage, but the Kings couldn't score in the final two periods of their third loss in 10 home games.
Jonathan Quick stopped 23 shots, but also gave up a juicy rebound on Sheahan's shot to Tatar, who scored a goal in his third straight game.
After Tatar scored his 10th goal of the season, the Slovakian forward pointed to the sky in an apparent tribute to his father, who died recently.
Cleary then capitalized on a turnover created by Luke Glendening, who knocked Jake Muzzin to the ice and fed Cleary for his fourth goal with 2:34 to play. Howard made several big saves in the final minute as Detroit hung on for its second win in five games.
Los Angeles lost in regulation for the first time in four games on a five-game homestand. The Kings' recent slump has knocked them 14 points behind NHL-leading Anaheim, although they're still in third place in the Pacific Division standings.
Quick hadn't lost in regulation since returning from a 24-game absence with a groin injury, but his teammates returned to their low-scoring ways after a four-goal outburst against Boston two nights ago. Los Angeles has scored more than three goals in a game just once since Dec. 19.
Detroit won without veteran forwards Pavel Datsyuk and Daniel Alfredsson. Datsyuk missed his third straight game with a lower-body injury, while Alfredsson sat with back spasms.
Doughty put the Kings ahead during that lengthy two-man advantage late in the first period, with the Canadian Olympic defenseman ripping a slap shot for his first goal since Dec. 11. Howard complained he was bumped by Kings captain Dustin Brown, who had set up a screen in front.
Detroit evened it moments later when Sheahan flipped home a rebound in front while being checked to the ice, scoring his first goal in seven career NHL games over two seasons.
The 22-year-old Sheahan was a first-round pick in 2010, playing three seasons at Notre Dame before winning a Calder Cup with the Wings' AHL affiliate in Grand Rapids last year.
NOTES: Kings F Jeff Carter played his 600th NHL game. ... The Kings hadn't scored a goal during a two-man advantage all season, going 0 for 3 before Doughty's goal. ... Kings D Matt Greene was a healthy scratch for the fourth straight game. ... The teams meet again in a week at Joe Louis Arena.
