Detroit Red Wings, Patrick Kane top Ottawa Senators in overtime

As the Detroit Red Wings seek to stake a claim in the wild-card race, taking care of the teams directly in front of them is crucial.

Patrick Kane scored in overtime to lift the Wings past the Ottawa Senators on Tuesday, kicking off a four-game stand at Little Caesars Arena with a 3-2 victory.

The Wings (18-18-4) won their fifth straight game and reached 40 points, but the Senators remained a point ahead at 41.

Dylan Larkin extended his goal-scoring streak to four games when he converted on a power play in the first period.

Alex Lyon started the game but left after the first period because of an upper-body injury, ceding the net to Cam Talbot. Simon Edvinsson missed the second half of the second period after a collision on open ice, but returned for the start of the third period.

The Wings needed him: In addition to being a top-four defenseman, Edvinsson set up Joe Veleno’s goal five minutes into the third period. Veleno got his stick on Edvinsson’s rebound and managed to send the puck bar down despite being off balance to make it 2-2.

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Taking advantage of handsy penalty

Leave it to Senators captain and top-line winger Brady Tkachuk, as skilled with the puck as he is at agitating, to take an unusual penalty. During a scrum around the seven-minute mark of the first period, Tkachuk’s attempt to aggravate Simon Edvinsson included ripping off Edvinsson’s helmet.

Officials called Tkachuk for roughing – removing opponent’s helmet, putting the Wings on a power play. The top unit moved the puck well and were rewarded with a goal at 8:30, when Larkin snapped Alex DeBrincat’s pass behind Anton Forsberg.

Spirited start

Tkachuk committed another infraction at 11:08 when he high-sticked Albert Johansson in the face, sending the Wings on another power play. J.T. Compher and Vladimir Tarasenko both had chances, and at least the Wings kept momentum on their side.

Compher’s best move of the period came a bit later, during five-on-five play, when he used his stick to steal the puck away from Claude Giroux just as he neared Detroit’s net. Patrick Kane had back-to-back chances in the final minute, and Edvinsson tried a slap shot as the Wings racked up a 14-10 edge in shots in the first 20 minutes.

Tough seconds

The Wings have had some tough second periods of late – their game got away from them Jan. 2 at the Columbus Blue Jackets, and they were outshot, 10-3, in the second period Jan. 4 at the Winnipeg Jets. The Senators likewise pushed back in the second period. Thomas Chabot scored seconds after the Wings killed off a penalty, at 12:25.

The Wings were on another penalty kill when Tkachuk picked up a drop pass from Jake Sanderson and fired a shot through traffic from the top of the left circle that put the Senators ahead by a goal.

Contact Helene St. James at hstjames@freepress.com. Follow her on Twitter @helenestjames.

Next up: Blackhawks

Matchup: Red Wings (17-18-4) vs Chicago (13-25-2).

Faceoff: 7 p.m. Friday; Little Caesars Arena, Detroit.

TV/radio: FanDuel Sports Network Detroit/NHL Network; WXYT-FM (97.1).

Read more on the Detroit Red Wings and sign up for our Red Wings newsletter. Her latest book, “The Franchise: Detroit Red Wings, A Curated History of the Red Wings,” was released October 2024. Her books, “On the Clock: Behind the Scenes with the Detroit Red Wings at the NHL Draft,” and “The Big 50: The Men and Moments that made the Detroit Red Wings” are available from Amazon, Barnes & Noble and Triumph Books. Personalized copies available via her e-mail.