NHL: Detroit 2, Edmonton 1

DETROIT, Feb. 9 (UPI) -- Jimmy Howard turned aside 23-of-24 shots and survived a late Edmonton power play Saturday, backstopping the Detroit Red Wings to a 2-1 victory.

Howard allowed only a second-period tally to Justin Schultz and stood firm in the closing minutes when the Red Wings' Johan Franzen was penalized for closing his hand on the puck and the Oilers pulled their goalie for a 6-on-4 advantage.

Niklas Kronwall recorded his first goal of the season early in the third period to break a 1-1 tie and Pavel Datsyuk added a marker as Detroit won a second straight.

Forty-year-old Nikolai Khabibulin, making his first start of the season, was touched for two goals on 30 shots for Edmonton, which has lost five consecutive games.