EDMONTON — Michal Postava turned his first NHL start into a landmark night at Rogers Place, making 25 saves and denying all three Edmonton shooters in the tiebreaker as the Detroit Red Wings erased a late deficit for a 4-3 shootout win Monday.
Detroit’s 24-year-old rookie had appeared in only one NHL game before arriving in Edmonton. He entered against the Vancouver Canucks last Thursday to start the third period, stopping seven of eight shots after replacing John Gibson. This time, he had the crease from the opening draw and delivered Detroit’s second straight road win after Saturday’s loss in Calgary.
“It’s amazing. I feel like a kid,” Postava said after earning his first victory. “Growing up, I watched all these NHL games and never thought I’d be in net winning one. I’m really happy.”
The Red Wings completed their four-game trip at 2-1-1 and moved to 5-4-3. Edmonton fell to 8-2-2, extending its skid to two games after a three-game winning run.
Detroit’s rally and Postava’s finish
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Vasily Podkolzin opened the scoring at 6:10 of the first period. Leon Draisaitl’s pass into the middle took a pair of deflections, first off Podkolzin and then Detroit forward Carter Mazur, before slipping past Postava.
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Viktor Arvidsson pulled Detroit even on the power play at 8:35 of the second. Lucas Raymond found him across the zone, and Arvidsson fired a one-timer from the left circle past Tristan Jarry.
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Edmonton regained the lead at 4:18 of the third, with Isaac Howard hammering Kasperi Kapanen’s feed from the right circle over the sprawled Postava. It was Howard’s first goal since Oct. 28, 2025.
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Detroit answered 30 seconds later. Arvidsson worked the puck free behind the Edmonton net and sent it into the low slot, where Emmitt Finnie finished past Jarry’s right pad.
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Colton Dach put Edmonton ahead 3-2 at 16:32, redirecting Ryan Shea’s point shot. The play went to video review for a possible high stick before the goal stood. It was Dach’s first of the season.
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With Postava on the bench for an extra attacker, Dylan Larkin tied it with 1:26 remaining in regulation. Raymond’s pass arrived off Larkin’s skates; the Detroit captain kicked it to his blade and slid it through Jarry’s pads.
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Postava preserved the tie in overtime when he stopped Evan Bouchard’s slot wrist shot with nine seconds left.
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Raymond scored the only goal of the shootout, while Postava shut down all three Oilers attempts to close out the win.
A first-start win for Detroit’s rookie
Postava became the third Red Wings goaltender over the past 25 years to win his first NHL start, following Petr Mrazek in 2013 and Jimmy Howard in 2005.
He said the approach was straightforward: enjoy the opportunity, help his teammates and stop the puck when called upon.
Detroit coach Todd McLellan credited his club for responding after the 4-1 defeat in Calgary. He pointed to the team’s checking, penalty killing and the calm work of its new starter against one of the League’s most dangerous attacks.
“We’re thrilled for him,” McLellan said of Postava. “Sometimes a goalie gets an opportunity like this, plays well and gets the win.”
Arvidsson, who finished with a goal and an assist, said Detroit defended as a connected five-man group and received a major lift from “Posty” in net. Raymond added two assists, including the setups on Arvidsson’s power-play goal and Larkin’s late equalizer.
Oilers lose Hyman, miss chance for two points
Jarry made 26 saves for Edmonton. Dach had a goal and assist, while Podkolzin and Howard also scored.
The Oilers lost forward Zach Hyman at 7:36 of the second period after Detroit defenseman Andreas Englund hit him and Hyman’s head struck the glass. Hyman had already missed six games after an undisclosed injury suffered in Edmonton’s season opener.
“Any time you’re hurt twice, it isn’t a good sign,” Edmonton coach Mike Babcock said. “He’s a really important piece for us, so that wasn’t enjoyable to see.”
Babcock felt Edmonton had the stronger third period and liked his club’s six-on-five push before Larkin’s tying goal. He also said Postava made key saves during Edmonton power plays.
Shea, whose point shot produced Dach’s go-ahead tip, said the Oilers must clean up their second-period play. He cited poor changes and missed assignments as issues that have cost the club confidence.
McDavid’s streak reaches 12 games
Connor McDavid registered an assist to stretch his season-opening point streak to 12 games. His assist streak also reached 12 games, matching the longest opening assist run in NHL history alongside Sebastian Aho in 2018-19, Ken Linseman in 1985-86 and Wayne Gretzky in 1982-83.
McDavid has eight goals and 26 assists for 34 points during the streak. Thirty-two of those points came in October, when he posted eight goals and 24 assists in 11 games. That 32-point October ranks fourth in NHL history, behind Mario Lemieux’s 38 points in 1988 and 36 in 1992, plus Gretzky’s 33 in 1986.
Draisaitl’s six-game goal streak ended after nine goals, though his assist on Podkolzin’s opener extended his point streak to seven games. He has nine goals and six assists in that span.
Detroit defenseman Moritz Seider collected an assist on Larkin’s tying goal, reaching 207 NHL assists and drawing level with Dennis Seidenberg for third among German-born defensemen in League history.
