Red Wings defeat Canucks in overtime

VANCOUVER --Justin Abdelkader scored on a power play 2:31 into overtime to give the Detroit Red Wings a 3-2 win against the Vancouver Canucks at Rogers Arena on Tuesday.
The goal came a few minutes after the Red Wings, last in the Atlantic Division, announced they had traded forward Steve Ott to the Montreal Canadiens during the game for a sixth-round pick in the 2018 NHL Draft.

WATCH: All Red Wings vs. Canucks highlights
"It's unfortunate to see guys move on," Abdelkader said. "You wish them luck and hope they are successful, but at the same time we are not going to lay down, we are going to try to win and get points each and every night."
Reid Boucher tied the game with 2:46 left in the third period for the Canucks, but with forward Brandon Sutter penalized for interference in overtime, Abdelkader redirected a no-look backdoor pass from Henrik Zetterberg past the outstretched right pad of goalie Ryan Miller.
"[Zetterberg] made a great play," Abdelkader said.
Frans Nielsen scored twice and Petr Mrazek made 25 saves for the Red Wings (25-26-10), who were coming off their five-day break. Detroit started a five-game road trip with their third win in the past four games despite trading Ott and defenseman Brendan Smith on Tuesday. Smith was traded to the New York Rangers earlier in the day for a third-round pick in the 2017 NHL Draft and a second-round pick in the 2018 NHL Draft.
"You can call it a business decision," said Zetterberg, who had two assists. "We've had a good start on this road trip. We've gotta keep doing our best and get better."

Markus Granlund also scored and Miller made 25 saves for the Canucks (26-29-7), who have lost three straight games and have three wins in their past 13 games (3-10-0).
The Canucks, eight points behind the St. Louis Blues for the second wild card into the Stanley Cup Playoffs from the Western Conference, traded forward Jannik Hansen to the San Jose Sharks late in the third period for forward Nikolay Goldobin and a conditional fourth-round pick in 2017. Hansen was a late scratch after taking part in the warmup.
"We knew something was going on," Henrik Sedin said. "That's tough to take in before a game starts. He's going to be a great fit for them and it's going to give him a chance to win."
Nielsen scored on a 2-on-1 rush 4:36 into the first period, and made it 2-0 with a power-play goal at 11:41, beating Miller high on the blocker side from the slot.
Granlund, in the lineup after missing one game with mumps symptoms, took Hansen's spot on the top line and made it 2-1 at 1:55 of the second period.

Goal of the game

Henrik Sedin banked a pass off the end boards behind the net to brother Daniel Sedin, who sent it into the slot to a streaking Granlund for a one-timer past Mrazek high on the glove side.

Save of the game

Daniel Sedin took a cross-ice pass and wound up for a slap shot just inside the top of the left faceoff circle 5:10 into the game, but Mrazek made a windmill glove save on the rising shot.

Unsung performance of the game

Granlund played a season-high 21:42 -- including 1:52 on the penalty kill -- in his first game back since testing negative for mumps.

Highlight of the game

Nielsen had a great chance for his second career hat trick after a turnover in front the Canucks net with 5:02 left in the second period, but Miller made a pad save.

They said it

"Our power play had two [goals]. In the end, we probably won the game on specialty teams."-- Red Wings coach Jeff Blashill
"You have to put that aside when the game starts. You have to be professional and play a good game, but today was obviously tough." -- Canucks forward Daniel Sedin after Jannik Hansen was traded
"I was brought here to be an offensive guy. I've been given chances the last couple games and it is nice to see one go in." -- Canucks forward Reid Boucher on scoring his first goal since joining the team off waivers on Jan. 4

Need to know

Blashill said he will call up a defenseman from Grand Rapids of the American Hockey League in time for back-to-back games against the Calgary Flames on Friday and Edmonton Oilers on Saturday. …Canucks forward Borna Rendulic, called up from Utica of the AHL earlier Tuesday, was the late replacement for Hansen.

What's next

Canucks: At the San Jose Sharks on Thursday (10:30 p.m. ET; SNP, CSN-CA, NHL.TV)
Red Wings: At the Calgary Flames on Friday (9 p.m. ET; SNW, FS-D, NHL.TV)