RECAP: Red Wings keep winning 'in different ways,' beat Oilers by 4-2 score to extend streak to five

DETROIT – Led by multi-point afternoons from captain Dylan Larkin (two goals, two assists) and Emmitt Finnie (two goals, one assist), the Detroit Red Wings defeated the Edmonton Oilers, 4-2, at Little Caesars Arena on Sunday for their fifth consecutive victory.

“I like how we’ve won in different ways,” said Larkin, who factored on all four of his club’s goals and pushed his season-opening point streak to six straight contests. “When it gets intense out there and a lot of pressure, we seem calmer. We seem like we know our jobs and we’re doing them. We’re executing. It’s not going to be perfect for 60 minutes, but how we’ve won in different ways is very encouraging.”

Earning his second consecutive win in as many starts for the Red Wings (5-1-0; 10 points) was netminder John Gibson, who had 16 saves. Goalie Stuart Skinner made 20 saves for the Oilers (2-3-1; 5 points), who dropped their third game in a row.

“I don’t think there’s a secret sauce,” Detroit head coach Todd McLellan said. “I think everybody is playing to their strengths. The goaltenders are giving us a chance to win each night. We’re not giving up 40-45 shots against, which certainly helps. Penalty kill has improved a little bit. And when all of that happens, you get a little more confident.”

After a scoreless first period in which the Red Wings outshot the Oilers 7-3, Larkin’s first goal of the game broke the stalemate at 8:51 of the second. The 29-year-old captain finished Ben Chiarot’s pass with a one-timer from the slot, with Lucas Raymond registering the secondary assist.

For Raymond, it was his first game back in the lineup after missing the past two because of an upper-body injury he sustained last Monday against the Toronto Maple Leafs.

A little over three minutes later, Finnie doubled the lead for Detroit when he deposited the rebound from Jacob Bernard-Docker’s point shot for his first career NHL goal to make it 2-0 at 11:54 of the second period. Earning the secondary assist was Larkin, who, as a result, secured his third straight multi-point contest.

“That was a great feeling,” Finnie said. “JBD made a great play at the point, and I was just lucky enough to be there in front.”

The Oilers managed to get one back on a tip-in goal from Noah Philp at 12:25 of the second period, but Larkin restored the Red Wings’ two-goal advantage when his wrist shot -- assisted by Finnie and Gibson -- hit off Mattias Ekholm’s skate and past Skinner to make it 3-1 at 17:05. That also gave Finnie his first career NHL multi-point game.

Leon Draisaitl’s backdoor tap-in goal gave Edmonton some late life, pulling the visitors within 3-2 at 7:33 of the third period.

“The game sure picked up in the third period,” McLellan said. “The pace, even the energy. I thought early, even in the first two periods, there was a lot of checking going on. A bit of a chess match between the players on the ice and then suddenly, the pace came out. I was happy with the way we handled it. We can skate.”

Finnie potted one in on an empty net for his second goal of the game with 1:22 left in regulation, locking in the 4-2 final. Raymond and Larkin were credited with the assists

“It’s just a good start,” Larkin pointed out. “I’ve said that before. We need to keep going, and now we get on the road a little bit. Very important to be a good road team.”

NEXT UP: The Red Wings will look to keep rolling when they kick off a back-to-back road set, beginning with an Atlantic Division clash against the Buffalo Sabres at KeyBank Center on Wednesday night.

WHAT WAS SAID

McLellan on Patrick Kane’s status

“I don’t have [an update]. Today is Sunday, so it’s a bad day. Tomorrow, we’ll know a little bit more.”

McLellan on the defensive pair of Albert Johansson and Bernard-Docker

“They’re starting to get comfortable with each other and both are so mobile. They might not be the biggest guys, but they play big.”

Larkin on Detroit’s rookie trio

“I think they’ve just gotten better and better. I said this before, but with Brans, it’s going to come for him and he’s going to score a lot in this League. I like how, whether the puck is going in or not, they’re just gotten stronger and stronger, more comfortable. Fin, I can’t say more good things about. A guy like him, even if the puck isn’t bouncing his or our way, he rarely makes mistakes, but if it happens, you can’t get mad at him. He’s such a great guy. I really mean that.”

Larkin on his mindset when facing McDavid

“Stay above him. It’s hard to do, but you almost don’t think about offense when you’re playing against him. It doesn’t help when Draisaitl is playing with him all night. His speed -- you’re a step behind, a half step behind or even with him, you’re screwed. You got to be above him. My mentality playing against him is, if it’s 0-0 and we’re out on the ice together, I think it gives our team a good chance. It’s funny when you don’t think about offense how offense comes.”