NHL

Red Wings hand Schneider, Devils a 7-4 whooping

DETROIT — Seven is usually a lucky number, but not for Cory Schneider and the Devils on Friday night.

Schneider gave up seven goals for the first time in his career — including three in a span of 3:01 — as the Devils fell to the Red Wings 7-4.

Adam Henrique had two goals and Patrik Elias and Jaromir Jagr also scored for the Devils in a poor effort.

“The game spoke for itself,” Devils coach Pete DeBoer said. “Disappointing. We didn’t have many people that were very good tonight.”

Johan Franzen had two goals and two assists for Detroit, Gustav Nyquist a goal and three assists and David Legwand a goal and two assists.

With four of the team’s top centers heading into the season out with injuries, Detroit traded for the veteran Legwand — a Detroit-area native — in a deal with Nashville at Wednesday’s trading deadline. The Red Wings wanted Legwand to be their No. 1 center.

Franzen is the right wing and Nyquist is on left wing.

“Obviously two great players, world-class players, and it’s an honor to play with them, and we had the puck tonight,” Legwand said. “We were moving it and I think, obviously, when you can move and skate it’s going to create some chances and opportunities.”

Brendan Smith, Kyle Quincey and Drew Miller also scored for Detroit.

The Red Wings led 5-3 after a wild second period in which seven goals were scored.

Franzen gave Detroit a 2-0 lead when Nyquist’s shot went in off Franzen’s glove. But the Devils scored three goals in 2:41 to take the lead.

Elias’ goal put the Devils on the board, Jagr got his 20th goal of the season and Henrique followed.

Then the Red Wings scored three goals in 3:01.

Franzen scored his second of the game and 15th of the season on the power play. Nyquist picked up his 16th goal and Quincey gave Detroit a two-goal lead with his fourth goal.

Legwand got his first goal as a Red Wing and Miller also scored in the third period

Henrique got his second goal of the night with 1:18 left.

Smith opened the scoring in the first period. He came straight off the bench and sent a one-time slap shot from just inside the blue line past Schneider. It was Smith’s third goal.