Music: {allcanada} Red Wings rout reeling Oilers

Saturday, November 2, 2013

{allcanada} Red Wings rout reeling Oilers

EDMONTON - Darren Helm's return to the Detroit Red Wings' lineup was a triumphant one.

Helm, who had suited up for the Red Wings just once since March 2012 due to a succession of injuries, scored a goal in his first appearance of the season, helping Detroit to a 5-0 victory against the Edmonton Oilers on Saturday night.

Tomas Tatar, Jakub Kindl, Joakim Andersson and Todd Bertuzzi also scored for the Red Wings. Rookie Petr Mrazek had to make only 14 saves to earn his first career shutout in his season debut.

The Oilers were shut out for the second consecutive game and are 0-4-1 in their past five.

Helm opened the scoring 5:09 into the first period, getting to a puck that bounced past Oilers defenseman Jeff Petry at center ice, going in uncontested and beating goaltender Richard Bachman between the pads. It was Helm's first goal since March 9, 2012.

Tatar scored 27 seconds later, pouncing on a rebound in front after Bachman stopped a shot from Andersson.

The two quick goals seem to take the life out of the Oilers.

Bachman was forced to leave before the end of the period after injuring his groin reaching out with his left pad. He was making his third consecutive start since being recalled from the Oklahoma City Barons on an emergency basis Sunday.

Jason LaBarbera replaced Bachman and was beaten at 6:55 of the second period when he was unable to stop Kindl's blast from the edge of the circle.

Despite not being in the lineup, goaltender Devan Dubnyk took a spot on the Oilers bench for the second period as an emergency replacement for LaBarbera. Dubnyk, who was nursing a sore ankle, would have been allowed to play only if LaBarbera was injured.

Andersson made it 4-0 at 7:54 of the third period by beating Ryan Nugent-Hopkins to the front of the net and converting a pass from Drew Miller. Bertuzzi closed the scoring at 9:43 with a power-play goal; he was left alone in front to bury Henrik Zetterberg's pass.

The Red Wings conclude their four-game Western Canada trip against the Winnipeg Jets on Monday. The Oilers begin a four-game road trip against the Florida Panthers on Tuesday.

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