Datsyuk, Shanahan Lift Detroit

On a team full of aging stars, one of the youngest Detroit Red Wings is playing a big role.

Pavel Datsyuk’s goal with 18.8 seconds to go in regulation forced overtime and Brendan Shanahan scored with 1 minute 9 seconds left in the extra period to give the Red Wings a 3-2 victory over the San Jose Sharks on Wednesday night at Detroit.

Datsyuk, a 25-year-old Russian, has 19 goals and 21 assists to rank among the NHL’s scoring leaders.

“In my mind, he’s one of the top two or three players in the league,” said Curtis Joseph, who made 26 saves for the Red Wings.

Datsyuk has scored 11 goals in the last nine games, but he’s not ready to think of himself as one of the NHL’s best.

“Maybe if I keep going for 30 years,” he said.

The Red Wings were able to win their sixth in a row at home in part because Nils Ekman was called for high-sticking with 30 seconds left in regulation.

“We could see it from the bench and you almost laugh,” San Jose Coach Ron Wilson said. “What can you do? You end up losing the game because of a mediocre call.”

Brett Hull extended his point streak to 12 games with an assist on Datsyuk’s goal.

Henrik Zetterberg, in his first game since breaking his left leg Nov. 3, had a goal and two assists for Detroit.

Minnesota 3, Colorado 2 -- Pascal Dupuis and Filip Kuba scored to give the Wild its first regular-season victory at Denver in its history.

Sergei Zholtok scored his 100th NHL goal, and Dwayne Roloson had 37 saves for Minnesota, which won its third in a row. The Wild has lost only twice (5-2-2) in nine games. Joe Sakic had both goals for the Avalanche, which had been unbeaten in eight games (4-0-4).

Dallas 3, Vancouver 1 -- Bill Guerin scored the tiebreaking goal with 10:09 remaining at Dallas.

The Stars, 2-0-1 in their last three games, had five goals in their previous seven games.

Guerin made it 2-1, scoring his 17th goal this season from low in the right circle off a pass from Pierre Turgeon.

Washington 2, Florida 2 -- The Panthers’ Stephen Weiss scored the game’s final goal in a power-play situation midway through the third period at Sunrise, Fla. Valeri Bure also scored, and Roberto Luongo made 25 saves for Florida, which has won only one of its last 10 games.

Bates Battaglia and Peter Bondra scored for Washington, and Maxime Ouellet, who shut out Atlanta on Tuesday night in his first start this season, made 20 saves.