Nurse’s OT goal sends Oilers over Detroit, 3-2 Detroit ouotshot throughout the game, hang on for point in OT loss

In Detroit, Darnell Nurse scored with 80 seconds gone in extra time on Thursday to give the visiting Edmonton Oilers a 3-2 win over the Red Wings.“We came into this season with a lot of confidence, and things didn’t go our way off the hop,” Nurse said. “We could have easily let it continue to snowball, but we found a way to dig ourselves out of it.”

It was the ninth straight win for the Oilers, tying a franchise record.

“Considering how many great teams they had in the 1980s, with all those Stanley Cups (four), I’m shocked they didn’t have a run longer than nine games,” Edmonton coach Kris Knoblauch said. “That feels good, but we need to keep piling up wins.”

The Oilers moved to 22-15-1.

Calvin Pickard made 15 saves in the win.

Despite being outshot, 27-11 through two periods, the Red Wings managed to keep the game scoreless and broke through on a goal by Andrew Copp at 3:34 of the third period for a 1-0 lead.

“I feel like I’ve been productive, but it has been a lot of assists (11),” Copp said. “It was nice to get back in the goal column.”

The Red Wings dropped to 20-16-5.

“We hit iron five times tonight; those are all shots that could have been goals,” Red Wings coach Derek Lalonde said. “If [Fabbri’s] shot goes in, we’re up 2-0 in the third.”

The Oilers’ Connor McDavid  tied the game, 1-1, at 9:12 of the third.

“As great as that play was, McDavid’s hockey IQ was just as impressive,” Lalonde said. “He had to have the patience and poise to not touch the puck until (Leon) Draisaitl tagged up. I don’t know how many players could have thought that through.”

Zach Hyman put the Oilers up, 2-1, with seven minutes left in the third.

Two minutes later, Olli Maatta  tied the game, 2-2, forcing the extra session.Alex Lyon made 44 saves in the loss.

“It’s interesting to play a game against a team like that, because it lets you see how high the bar is set,” Lyon said. “We knew this was going to be a good test, and it is a huge point.”