PITTSBURGH — Calvin Pickard got a doozy of an assignment for his first start of the season: Sidney Crosby and the high-octane Pittsburgh Penguins.
With No. 1 goalie Alex Nedeljkovic having made seven straight starts and backup Thomas Greiss unavailable, the Detroit Red Wings went with Pickard on Friday night at PPG Paints Arena. He made 36 saves, including stopping Crosby on a breakaway, and Lucas Raymond capped the game with a shootout goal that gave the Wings a 3-2 victory.
It was a fitting end to a well-played game for the Wings (19-19-6), ending a three-game skid.