Detroit Red Wings power play gets lots of work in OT loss to Penguins

The Detroit Red Wings played their way out of early trouble as they began the new year on the road.

They rallied twice, but ultimately had to settle for one point against the Pittsburgh Penguins, losing 4-3 in overtime at PPG Paints Arena on Thursday, Jan. 1. Still, that gives the Wings points in six of seven games.

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Red Wings playoff position

The Wings (24-13-4) lead the Atlantic Division with 52 points; they'll get a chance to avenge themselves against the Penguins at Little Caesars Arena on Saturday (noon, ABC).

On Thursday, Sidney Crosby scored twice in the opening six minutes, but goals from James van Riemsdyk and Andrew Copp made it a tie game by early in the second period. Kris Letang scored 58 seconds into overtime on a slap shot.

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One final rally

Lucas Raymond tapped Dylan Larkin's shot into Pittsburgh's net at 12:48 of the third period, but the Penguins successfully challenged Emmitt Finnie was offside. Instead it was Blake Lizotte who put his team up by a goal, with 4:09 to go, when his shot went in off Simon Edvinsson.

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The Wings caught a break when Jack St. Ivany sent the puck over the glass, an automatic penalty that sent the Wings on their eighth power play of the night with 3:46 to play. Alex DeBrincat made good on that one, making it 3-3 when he pulled the puck off the backboards and stuffed it into the net, with 2:58 to go.

Crosby scored his 22nd goal of the season during a power play in the first period, taking advantage of four players around the net who gave goalie Cam Talbot scant chance to see Crosby fire the puck from the top of the left circle.

Crosby added No. 23 at 5:46 when he took advantage of a Wings mishap. Ben Chiarot had the puck just inside the his own blueline and attempted to play it to Emmitt Finnie. But Finnie turned before he saw the pass, and Crosby swooped in, scooped up the puck, skated to the slot and went stick-side on Talbot.

The Wings were able to stem the Penguins' momentum during the first half of a four-minute power play late in the first period, when van Riemsdyk tipped Marco Kasper's shot.

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Andrew Copp scored 1:01 into the second period on a fluky bounce. Chiarot sent the puck in along the boards from the blue line, but the puck hit a stanchion and bounced right out in front of the net, which was open as Arturs Silovs had gone behind his net in anticipation of playing the puck. Instead, Copp picked up his fifth goal of the season.

Contact Helene St. James at hstjames@freepress.com.

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This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Detroit Red Wings earn point in 4-3 OT loss to Pittsburgh Penguins