Detroit Red Wings blow 2-goal lead, rally to beat Montreal Canadiens, 5-4, in OT

The Detroit Red Wings won for the fifth time in their last six games, going to overtime to top a divisional rival.

Defenseman Jake Walman scored in the opening minute of the extra period Saturday at Bell Centre to settle the final score at 5-4 in the Wings’ favor over the Montreal Canadiens.

The Wings (13-7-3) scored three times in the first period as they capitalized on special-teams play, but the Habs didn’t let up as they sought to add to their OT victory earlier in the season against the Wings.

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Gustav Lindstrom, a Detroit prospect who was traded to the Canadiens in the deal that brought defenseman Jeff Petry to the Wings this offseason, scored with four minutes remaining in regulation to tie the game at 4-all.

Joe goes early

The Wings seemed in control after 20 minutes.

Joe Veleno put Detroit up, 1-0, near the midpoint of the first period. From his position near the bottom of the right circle, Veleno connected on a pass from Lucas Raymond and fired the puck behind Jake Allen.

Christian Fischer made it 2-0 when he scored shorthanded, finishing a play set up by Michael Rasmussen as he rushed on Montreal’s net while Dylan Larkin was in the penalty box.

DeBrincat gets No. 200

Daniel Sprong, wearing his new No. 17, put the Wings up 3-0 with 40 seconds left in the first period, but Justin Barron scored on Ville Husso 33 seconds later. The Canadiens pulled closer in the second period when Joel Armia scored shorthanded four minutes in, but the Wings used a power play to restore their two-goal lead when Alex DeBrincat scored less than a minute later, giving him 200 goals for his career — 160 with the Chicago Blackhawks, 27 with the Ottawa Senators and 13 with the Wings.

The Habs made it a one-goal game in the third period when Nick Suzuki fired a shot through traffic, taking advantage of Husso being screened.