Dylan Larkin with 2 goals in the first period to give the Wings a 2-0 lead.
No scoring in period two then Buffalo scored 2 goals in less than three minutes in the third to tie the game.
With just over six minutes left in the third Tyler Bertuzzi scored on the power play.but Buffalo, with their goalie pulled, scored with 46 seconds left.
Overtime settled nothing and Detroit wins it in the shootout on goals by Larkin and Athanasiou.
Next game is tomorrow night in Columbus. Detroit goals and stats are below.
Larkin.