Larkin scores 2 goals to help Red Wings edge Sabres, stop slide

DETROIT -- Dylan Larkin scored twice to help the Detroit Red Wings to a 2-1 victory against the Buffalo Sabres at Little Caesars Arena on Saturday.

All three goals came with Detroit on the power play.

“It’s a pretty good night when you hold that team to one goal,” Red Wings coach Derek Lalonde said. “That’s a quality win against a really good offensive team.”

Cam Talbot made 31 saves for the Red Wings (5-5-1), who had lost three straight.

“[Talbot] was truly the difference maker,” said Larkin, the Detroit captain. “He got us two points tonight with some unbelievable saves. He played pretty much a perfect game.”

Alex Tuch scored for the Sabres (4-7-1), who have lost three in a row. Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen made 21 saves.

Buffalo was coming off a 4-3 loss to the New York Islanders on Friday.

“The penalty kill was the obvious difference. It is unacceptable to give up two goals,” Tuch said. “In the second half of the game, I thought we took over and played very well, but we need to bury some chances.”

Detroit forward Lucas Raymond nearly opened the scoring on the power play at 11:04 of the first period. Luukkonen stopped his one-timer from the left face-off circle, and the puck got behind the goalie before Buffalo defenseman Owen Power cleared the puck out of the crease.

Later during the same power play, Tuch put Buffalo in front 1-0 at 11:39 when he stole the puck from Larkin at the red line and scored on a short-handed breakaway.

“I put that goal on myself,” Larkin said. “Turning that puck over was unacceptable.”

Larkin tied it 1-1 at 7:49 of the second period, taking Patrick Kane’s pass below the right circle and sweeping the puck in from a sharp angle.

Larkin then gave the Red Wings a 2-1 lead at 14:38, scoring from the low slot off a feed from Alex DeBrincat.

“We didn’t clear the puck on the first goal and we missed a coverage on the second one,” Buffalo coach Lindy Ruff said. “You have to get that done.”

Tuch bailed the Sabres out defensively with 4:33 left in the period. He blocked consecutive Andrew Copp shots in the crease with Luukkonen out of position before batting the puck out of the air with his hand to clear it out of danger.

JJ Peterka had two dangerous chances with 2:03 left in the third period after the Sabres pulled Luukkonen for a sixth skater, but Talbot stopped him twice from in close.

“The puck was right around the net a few times, but we just couldn’t get the job done,” Ruff said.

NOTES: Larkin has 19 goals in 32 career games against the Sabres, six more than he has against any other opponent (13 each against New Jersey Devils, Toronto Maple Leafs). … Buffalo forward Tage Thompson had his point streak end at an NHL career-high eight games. … Sabres defenseman Jacob Bryson had two blocked shots and played 13:34 in his season debut.