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  Monday, Dec. 27 7:30pm ET
Yzerman tied for 9th in career goals
 
  RECAP | BOX SCORE

DETROIT (AP) -- After missing a chance for a winning goal near the end of the third period, Steve Duchesne delivered in overtime.

Duchesne scored 3:21 into overtime and Steve Yzerman moved into a ninth-place tie on the NHL career goals list as the Detroit Red Wings beat the Atlanta Thrashers 3-2 Monday night.

Duchesne, denied from point-blank range by Thrashers rookie goaltender Scott Fankhouser late in the third period, took a pass from Chris Chelios while standing near the right-circle dot and fired a shot that beat Fankhouser high on the far side.

"I kind of ended up behind the net by myself," Duchesne said. "Cheli was by himself on the top, so I figured 'Don't miss the net or it might be a 2-on-1 on the other side."'

Fankhouser, making his first career start in his second NHL game, stopped 37 shots but was fooled a little bit on the last.

"It was in our zone for a while and I started getting tired," Fankhouser said. "I went down early and he put it right upstairs."

Yzerman scored in the first period for his 608th career goal, tying him with former teammate Dino Ciccarelli on the NHL list. Bobby Hull ranks eighth at 610 and Mario Lemieux seventh at 613.

"Some of those guys I've played against such as Dino and Mario. Bobby Hull and those guys I grew up idolizing," Yzerman said. "It's kind of exciting, but you don't really think about it a whole lot in the midst of the playing season."

Pat Verbeek also scored for the Red Wings, who got 21 saves from Ken Wregget.

Mike Stapleton scored for Atlanta and Dean Sylvester had his 10th goal in his last 17 games.

The Thrashers had a three-game unbeaten streak snapped.

"We're a team that can play in this league now," Fankhouser said. "It'd be better to win, but overtime's pretty good. We got a point out of it, which is what this club definitely needs is points."

Fankhouser's teammates were glowing after his first start.

"I'm excited for him," Stapleton said. "He's a great young kid, works hard every day and that's what you've got to do."

Detroit has won three straight and eight of nine. The Red Wings, whose 16-3-1 home record is the NHL's best, have won six straight and 11 of 12 at Joe Louis Arena.

But they looked a little rusty in their first game in five days. Detroit had only 17 shots through the first two periods before getting 23 in the third period and overtime.

"We played a totally different game in the third period," Brendan Shanahan said. "We're a team that likes puck control."

Yzerman's goal ended a beautiful individual effort for the only score of the first period.

He made a hard stop near the left circle, that took Atlanta defenseman Gord Murphy out of the play, and then skated around Chris Tamer. Yzerman then slipped a shot into the open right side of the net.

Stapleton tied it at 16:02 of the second period. Ray Ferraro won a right-circle faceoff back to Stapleton, whose quick shot beat Wregget on the stick side.

Verbeek put Detroit back on top 4:43 into the third period on an unusual play. Lidstrom lofted a pass toward the net but, with teammate Brendan Shanahan and Atlanta's Denny Lambert tangled up, Verbeek tipped the puck under the fallen players and past Fankhouser.

Sylvester tied it again six minutes later when he converted Andrew Brunette's centering pass from point-blank range.
 


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RECAPS
Philadelphia 5
Calgary 1

Montreal 4
Ottawa 4

Chicago 2
Washington 2

Detroit 3
Atlanta 2

New Jersey 4
Buffalo 1

NY Islanders 3
Boston 0

Florida 6
Tampa Bay 1

Edmonton 4
Anaheim 1

San Jose 3
Dallas 1

Colorado 5
St. Louis 1

AUDIO/VIDEO
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 Steve Duchesne scores the game-winning goal.
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