Photo by Andrew Knapik/MiHockey

Red Wings win first game of the 2018-19 season

By @MichaelCaples –

They couldn’t hold onto the lead at the end of the third period, but they still found a way.

The Red Wings finally have a win in the 2018-19 NHL season.

Gustav Nyquist scored the deciding goal with 1:16 remaining in overtime, as Detroit topped the Florida Panthers 4-3 Saturday night down in Sunrise.

The Wings had a 3-2 lead with 1:16 remaining in regulation when Mike Hoffman sent a weak wrist shot Howard’s way and the puck somehow got through the Wings netminder.

Dennis Cholowski, Thomas Vanek and Dylan Larkin scored for the Wings – all in the second period. That erased a 2-0 lead that the Panthers established over the first 20 minutes.

Jonathan Ericsson played in his first game of the season; the Wings defenseman registered three hits, two takeaways, one turnover and a -2 rating in 19:19 worth of ice time.

Howard made 34 saves in the victory.

The Wings are now 1-5-2 on the season; they host Carolina Monday night.