Well-rested, the Detroit Red Wings put on a well-executed show Saturday night before a lively crowd at Little Caesars Arena.
They started strong against the Buffalo Sabres, converted on power plays, limited the chances against goalie Alex Nedeljkovic and were rewarded with a 4-0 victory that boosted their home record to 13-6-2.
It was precisely the performance the Wings (17-17-5) needed after going winless over their previous four games (including the previous one at home). Their special teams clicked, and Nedeljkovic made 22 saves to earn his first shutout as a Wings. It was the Wings' first shutout since May 1 of last season.