Larkin gets 4 points, Red Wings defeat Oilers for 5th straight win

DETROIT -- Dylan Larkin had two goals and two assists to help the Detroit Red Wings win their fifth straight game, 4-2 against the Edmonton Oilers at Little Caesars Arena on Sunday.

Larkin, who has 11 points (five goals, six assists) during a six-game point streak, also helped hold Connor McDavid to two shots and zero points.

“It is especially difficult when Connor and Leon (Draisaitl) are out there together, because Connor can speed the game up and Leon can slow it down,” Red Wings coach Todd McLellan said. “But Dylan can skate with Connor. Tonight, he accepted the challenge and did a great job.”

Emmitt Finnie scored his first two NHL goals and added an assist for the Red Wings (5-1-0). John Gibson made 16 saves and had an assist.

“I don’t think there’s a secret sauce,” McLellan said. “Our goalies are giving us a chance every game, we’re not giving up 40-45 shots against, and the penalty kill has improved. When all that happens, you get a little more confident.”

Lucas Raymond, who missed the past two games with an upper-body injury, had two assists and was plus-2 in 17:20 of ice time. Patrick Kane, though, did not play after sustaining an upper-body injury after slamming into the boards late in Detroit’s 2-1 overtime win against the Tampa Bay Lightning on Friday.

Noah Philp and Leon Draisaitl scored, and Brett Kulak had two assists for the Oilers (2-3-1), who have lost three in a row.

“I think we’re playing fine defensively, we’re just not scoring enough, and some of that is me," Draisaitl said. "There is a different dynamic to the team when the top guys are feeling it, and I’m not there. I need to look in the mirror.”

Stuart Skinner made 21 saves.

“Tonight there were a lot of missed passes and some poor execution,” Oilers coach Kris Knoblauch said. “When the guys get some confidence and feel better about their games, we’ll execute those and get some momentum.”

The Red Wings took a 1-0 lead at 8:51 of the second period when Larkin beat Skinner with a one-timer from the slot.

Shortly after killing an Edmonton power play, Finnie put home the rebound of Jacob Bernard-Docker’s shot to make it 2-0 at 11:54.

“[Bernard-Docker] made a great play to get the puck on the net, and I was right there in front,” said Finnie, who was playing in his sixth NHL game. “It’s a great feeling.”

Philp cut the lead to 2-1 at 12:25, tipping in Vasily Podkolzin’s shot from the point.

Larkin scored his second goal to extend the lead to 3-1 at 17:05. With Finnie providing a screen, Larkin sent a wrist shot on goal that hit off the skate of Oilers defenseman Mattias Ekholm.

Draisaitl pulled Edmonton to within 3-2 at 7:33 of the third, getting open at the back post and burying a pass from Kulak.

However, Finnie scored into an empty net at 18:38 for the 4-2 final.

There wasn’t a single play stoppage in the span of 11:05 between the goals by Draisaitl and Finnie.

“I knew it was a long stretch,” Larkin said. “Maybe it helped us a little bit when it got chaotic. Good defense is going to lead to offense against that team, and that’s what happened tonight.”

NOTES: Oilers forward Kasperi Kapanen left the game with an undisclosed injury in the first period. Knoblauch did not have an update on his condition after the game. ... Finnie (No. 201 in 2023 NHL Draft) became the first player selected by Detroit in round seven or later to get a multigoal game for the Red Wings since Henrik Zetterberg on Jan. 18, 2015.