DETROIT _ The Detroit Red Wings stared down a pair of two-goal deficits and an opponent on a mission to avoid a sweep.
The Montreal Canadiens owned the first period Tuesday at Little Caesars Arena, but the Wings stuck with it and tied the game in the third period.
Andreas Athanasiou scored twice to lift the Wings to a 4-3 victory. The Wings (15-43-4) finished the season series 4-0 against the Canadiens.
Athanasiou amended for coughing up the puck on Montreal's first goal by edging the Wings within a goal in the third period. Robby Fabbri scored in the second period to put the Wings within 2-1.
Mike Green earned his 500th career point when he made it 3-3 midway through the third period, picking up the puck from Anthony Mantha and scoring five-hole on Carey Price. That could help the Wings in the bigger picture, as Green is a candidate to be traded by Monday's deadline.
Athanasiou scored again with 5:15 to play. Tyler Bertuzzi worked the puck to the net before slipping it to Athanasiou, who picked up his 10th goal of the season.
Mantha and Dylan Larkin also assisted on Fabbri's goal.
