Recap: Raymond's overtime heroics help Red Wings defeat Sabres, 3-2

DETROIT - For the Detroit Red Wings, there's no place like home this season.
Detroit continued its early season success at Little Caesars Arena on Saturday night, recording a 3-2 win over the Buffalo Sabres in overtime to push its home record to 7-2-2. Rookie Lucas Raymond buried his ninth goal of the season in the extra session, negating a late third period equalizing goal from Buffalo.
"The fans have been showing up. The atmosphere has been great," Red Wings captain Dylan Larkin said. "We just get excited to be here and you know, it was a long year without fans, and we missed them a ton. To have them back and to play in this building with some of the loudest moments that I've heard here, since it has been open, have happened this year. We got to keep going so there are louder moments."

After Buffalo evened the score, 2-2, with less than two minutes remaining in the decisive third period, Raymond's game-winning goal just 26 seconds into overtime helped the Red Wings secure all four possible points on the mini homestand.

The Red Wings improved to 10-9-3 on the season and won their third straight home game. The Sabres fell to 8-11-2 overall and 2-6-1 on the road. Detroit will travel to the Boston Bruins on Tuesday night before returning home for three straight games.
"First off, I thought we deserved to win," Detroit coach Jeff Blashill said. "I think it was a game where I thought we could have been up by a couple as the game went along. I thought we could have been up 3-1, 4-1. We had the opportunities to. I didn't think we gave up a whole bunch at all defensively, so that's a good thing for us."
After a scoreless first period, Buffalo struck first with 14:55 to play in second. After Red Wings center Vladislav Namestnikov came up short on a 2-on-1 opportunity, the Sabres quickly gained possession on a rush of their own. Forward Brett Murray passed the puck to forward Dylan Cozens, who scored his fifth goal of the season to put the Sabres up 1-0.
Detroit tied the game, 1-1, at 10:04 in the second period. Center Carter Rowney, assisted by defenseman Gustav Lindstrom and Sam Gagner, buried a bouncing puck past Sabres goalie Dustin Tokarski.
Detroit claimed its first lead (2-1) just 1:19 later. After Moritz Seider's shot bounced off the left post, forward Pius Suter located the puck and scored his fifth goal of the season. Forward Givani Smith and Seider were both credited with assists.

The Red Wings outshot the Sabres, 18-13, in the second period and took a 2-1 lead into the second intermission.
With 1:37 left in the third period, Buffalo sent the game into overtime after forward Jeff Skinner got a stick on a shot from the point to even things up, 2-2. Both center Cody Eakin and defenseman Rasmus Dahlin recorded assists.
Raymond's game-winner came just 26 seconds into overtime, and was assisted by captain Dylan Larkin and defenseman Filip Hronek. It was the Swedish rookie's ninth goal of the season and pushed his season total to 21 points, a mark that continues to lead all NHL rookies.
Detroit goaltender Alex Nedeljkovic made his third straight start, finishing with 26 saves. "It's not going to be pretty every time. We know that, but we did it," Larkin said. "When things don't go well, we get back to home ice, we get back to playing our game."
Tuesday's puck drop from TD Garden is set for 7 p.m., with broadcast coverage on Bally Sports Detroit and the Red Wings Radio Network.

Plenty to celebrate at Little Caesars Arena on Saturday
There were many reasons to celebrate at Little Caesars Arena on Saturday night. Aside from celebrating Hockey Fights Cancer and Filip Zadina's 22nd birthday, Detroit center Vladislav Namestnikov played in his 500th career game.