Asplund had two assists, and Dustin Tokarski made 29 saves for the Sabres (5-4-2), who lost their fourth straight.
"They probably got uptight before the second [Bertuzzi] goal," Sabres coach Don Granato said. "It was the defensive zone. It wasn't any doing of [the Red Wings] part. It was us. We just slid out of position and created, opened a seam, which is uncharacteristic. … Because it was a simple coverage that we've done over and over and over.
"So I would have to say we were a little tight there, tense there. For what reason? There was no reason. The unfortunate part is you have to learn from it."
Pius Suter gave the Red Wings a 1-0 lead 16 seconds into the first period. Bertuzzi won a battle behind the net and backhanded a pass into the crease. The Red Wings took several jabs at the puck before Suter pushed it in from the right side of the net.
Tage Thompson tied it 1-1 at 11:32 of the second period. Jeff Skinner faked a wraparound attempt before stopping behind the net and passing the puck through Nedeljkovic's pads to Thompson in front, who scored far side.
"He made a great play," Thompson said of Skinner. "I just knew if I came in right off of him, right behind him, I had the opportunity. If he didn't make that play, went behind the net the other way, I'd still be able to get there, so it was a great play."