BUFFALO, N.Y. _ At one point in the second period, a couple of fans chanted "we want Hughes."
The plea for the chance to add Jack Hughes applied to either team, as the Detroit Red Wings and Buffalo Sabres both are headed for the draft lottery. Thursday's game at KeyBank Center was won by the Wings, 5-4 in overtime, thanks to commanding performances from the young core at the center of the rebuild.
Dylan Larkin scored twice to give the Wings their first 30-goal scorer in a decade. Anthony Mantha had three assists, Tyler Bertuzzi scored in regulation and overtime, and also had an assist.
Newcomer Taro Hirose assisted on the overtime goal to reach five assists in five games.
There was a good deal of ebb and flow to the game: the Sabres had the early jump, the Wings pushed back and grabbed a lead with Mantha setting up Bertuzzi and Hronek. The Sabres took control in the second period, but Larkin scored two minutes apart in the third to provide another two-goal lead. Casey Mittelstadt and Jack Eichel scored 41 seconds apart to keep things interesting.
When the Wings went on their first power play at 7:01, they were being outshot 11-1. By the end of the first period, shots were 17-15 to Detroit. Between using 11 forwards and three power plays in the first period, there was heavy reliance on the best young forwards. Andreas Athanasiou looked especially impressive on the first power play, directing shot after shot at Buffalo's net. Mantha set up a goal on the third power play, firing a shot that Bertuzzi tipped for a 1-0 lead at 12:02 of the first period. Athanasiou played 8:34 in the first period, Larkin played 7:52, and Bertuzzi, 7:13.
Hronek scored in the opening minute of the second period but after that it was all Sabres. The Wings had trouble getting out of their zone, and lost their lead. Kyle Okposo ripped a shot that eluded Jimmy Howard at 6:12, with a second left on a penalty to Luke Witkowski. Howard came up with a couple big saves on the next Sabres power play, fending off a determined attack. Marco Scandella got one through at 17:16, eyeing an opening with a crowd by the crease to make it 2-2 after two periods.
The Wings had called up Martin Frk from Grand Rapids but ended up not needing him as both Montha and Luke Glendening (neither of whom practiced Wednesday) were able to play. The decision to dress seven defensemen proved prudent as Jonathan Ericsson was lost in the first period to a lower-body injury. It was his second game back since missing five games with a knee injury. Frans Nielsen went to the locker room during the third period after a mishap that saw him leveled by Witkowski.
