Red Wings hold off Sabres, 3-2

DETROIT (AP) Daniel Alfredsson had a goal and an assist and the Detroit Red Wings held off the Buffalo Sabres 3-2 on Friday night.

Darren Helm and Tomas Jurco also scored for Detroit. Danny DeKeyser had two assists and Jimmy Howard made 21 saves.

It was Red Wings coach Mike Babcock's 413 win for Detroit, which ties him with Jack Adams for the all-time franchise record.

Jamie McBain scored and Nicolas Deslauriers got his first career goal for Buffalo, which has the NHL's worst record. Matt Hackett stopped 28 shots.

Deslauriers pulled the Sabres within one at 6:40 of the third period, sending in a loose puck from the slot.

McBain's power-play goal put Buffalo on the scoreboard with 7:32 left in the second period. He beat Howard with a wrist shot from the left circle for McBain's fifth goal.

Detroit led 3-0 after the first period.

Helm opened the scoring 5:47 into the game when he put in a loose puck from Hackett's right at the side of the crease. It was Helm's 11th goal.

Jurco and Andersson then scored 1:16 apart.

Jurco tipped Dekeyser's shot from the point out of the air and past Hackett for a power-play goal with 5:48 left in the first. It was Jurco's seventh goal and second in two games. It came with John Scott in the penalty box for hooking.

Alfredsson got his 18th goal, with 4:32 remaining in the opening period, when he scored on a rebound.

NOTES: Detroit C Pavel Datsyuk returned after missing 16 games with an inflamed knee. He had also missed 30 of the last 34 games. ... Buffalo D Henrik Tallinder missed his second game with a lower-body injury. ... Red Wings RW Daniel Alfredsson returned after missing a game due to a sore back. ... Sabres goalies Michal Neuvirth and Matt Hackett both played junior hockey with the Ontario Hockey League's Plymouth Whalers, who are based in suburban Detroit. ... This was the final game for referee Don Van Massenhoven. It was the 1,277th NHL game of his career. He chose to work his last game at Joe Louis Arena.