Palmieri scores in OT, Devils edge Red Wings 3-2

NEWARK, N.J. (AP) Kyle Palmieri and the New Jersey Devils dug deep to cool off the Detroit Red Wings.

In a gritty effort, Palmieri scored in overtime as the Devils rallied from a two-goal deficit in the third period to pull out a 3-2 victory over the Red Wings on Friday night.

Gustav Nyquist and Tomas Tatar scored power-play goals in the second period as Detroit seemingly took command of the game.

''We knew what he had to do,'' Palmieri said. ''After the first two periods, we didn't feel like we deserved to be down 2-0, but sometimes that's the way it goes.''

The Devils rallied while Adam Henrique and Travis Zajac, their top two centers, missed the game with injuries. And they did it against a Red Wing team that was 8-0-4 in its previous 12 games.

However, Detroit was playing for the second straight nights, having beaten Montreal 3-2 on Thursday.

Damon Severson and Sergey Kalinin scored the third period goals for the Devils to set the stage for Palmieri's winner. Cory Schneider finished with 27 saves.

In the extra period, Palmieri took a lead pass from Lee Stempniak and streaked into the Detroit zone ahead of defenseman Tomas Tatar, skated in on the goal and put a backhander past a sprawled out Jimmy Howard with 39.3 seconds remaining.

''I hit the zone with some speed and just tried to go upstairs with my backhand,'' Palmieri said after extending his goal-scoring streak to four games.

''We believed in ourselves,'' he said. ''They were on the second half of a back-to-back. We knew if we played the third period in their zone they were either going to take penalties or give up some chances. Both happened.''

While giving the Devils credit, Nyquist admitted the two games in two nights was a challenge.

''They battled hard,'' Nyquist said. ''This is the same that every team goes through. You've got to find a way to battle hard in that third period.''

Nyquist got the Red Wings on the scoreboard at 8:51 of the second on a redirection of Henrik Zetterberg's shot. The tip by Nyquist glanced off the right post before landing in the net only 11 seconds after Brian O'Neill was whistled for slashing.

A penalty to Patrik Elias for interference with 5:41 left in the period set the stage for a roller-coaster power play.

Detroit first came close to cashing in when Dylan Larkin rang a shot off the post from the left circle.

Then it was New Jersey's turn as Mike Cammalleri was stoned by Howard on a backhand try that left the Devils' winger shaking his head.

Back the other way, Tatar ripped a shot from the top of the left circle past Schneider with 3:52 to go to make it 2-0.

The Devils turned things around in the third, with Palmieri playing a key role on the tying goal.

Severson broke through at 2:40 with a drive from the right point past a screened Howard.

New Jersey evened the score with 5:20 left as Kalinin deflected Palmieri's shot with a stick dangerously close to the cross bar. A video review confirmed the goal was good.

Red Wings coach Jeff Blashill then used his coach's challenge, alleging Kalinin interfered with Howard.

The goal withstood the second video review, giving Kalinin his first tally in 12 games.

''I thought it was going to be called a high stick,'' said Howard who made 35 saves. ''It leaves a bad taste in the mouth. Having a two goal lead in the third on the road, and we were doing a lot of great things out there. To have it spoiled is tough.''

Each team had 10 shots in the scoreless opening period, with each also having a great opportunity on the power play.

John Moore picked up the puck in his own end, wove through the Detroit defenders to break in on Howard who got a piece of the shot as it deflected off the post.

The Red Wings came close on their man advantage when Schneider made a sprawling stop on Mike Green.

NOTES: With Henrique (lower body injury) and Zajac (upper body) out of the lineup, the Devils recalled Joseph Blandisi from Albany (AHL) for his NHL debut. ... RW Jiri Tlusty was activated after missing nine games (upper body) while RW Bobby Farnham (upper body) took his place. ... It was the first meeting of the NHL's youngest coaches. Blashill turned 42 this week; New Jersey's John Hynes is 40. ... Detroit scratched D Jakub Kindl and LWs Drew Miller and Teemu Pulkkinen. The New Jersey scratches were D Jon Merrill and LW Stefan Matteau.