The Wings bested Buffalo on the road 4-2.
We stayed knotted at zeroes for the first period, then the Sabres scored first to start the second period. Detroit responded with Brendan Smith’s 5th goal of the season to tie it.
Buffalo found themselves up 5 on 3 shortly after the tie, but the Red Wings killed the penalties successfully. Jimmy Howard stopped an array of difficult shots, ending with 25 saves on the night.
The Wings struck again in the 3rd period behind a Darren Helm scrum shot. Later on, they took a 3-1 edge after David Legwand went between the goalie’s legs.
The Sabres’ Zemgus Girgensons did not give up, though. He scored his second goal of the game with over two minutes to play, giving Buffalo’s fans renewed life.
Pavel Datsyuk squashed it with a backhanded shot to the empty net with four seconds left.
Babcock won his 414th, earning him the record for most wins by a Red Wings coach.
Detroit plays Pittsburgh tomorrow night.