DETROIT -- Defenseman Mike Green's best days for creating offense may be behind him, but he did something Monday night that he never accomplished before.

Green posted his first career hat trick to lead the Detroit Red Wings to a 5-1 win against the Ottawa Senators at Joe Louis Arena.

"I think there's a lot of luck involved," Green said. "I was committed to getting the puck on the net, and I think I got a couple screens from Ottawa defenders. Vanny (left winger Thomas Vanek) made some great plays on the forecheck to set us up a couple times, and we were really working hard."

Green, 31 and in his 12th NHL season, was once one of the top offensive defensemen in the NHL. He had 31 goals and 73 points in 2008-09, then produced 19 goals and 76 points with the Washington Capitals the following season. However, he has not approached those numbers since.

The goals were his first three of the season.

"Mike Green ... three goals ... He certainly showed that he's still has a lot of ability from a few years ago. He was the difference," Ottawa goalie Andrew Hammond said.

It was the first hat trick by a Red Wings defenseman since Nicklas Lidstrom had one on Dec. 15, 2010, and just the fifth by an NHL defenseman in the past five years.

Center Darren Helm scored twice for Detroit, which earned its first win of the season after losing its first two games. Vanek had three assists, and goalie Petr Mrazek made 31 saves.

Left winger Ryan Dzingel scored for Ottawa, which lost for the first time after two wins. Hammond stopped 20 shots.

"We started out fine but, for some reason, that first goal just deflated us and there's no way that one goal should deflate us," Senators coach Guy Boucher said, referencing Green's first goal, in the first period. "You're asking for trouble when you react that way to one goal."

It was the home opener for the Red Wings, who are playing their last season at Joe Louis Arena. They will move into Little Caesars Arena, which is under construction, to begin the 2017-18 season.

Green scored twice in the first period, then completed his hat trick by beating Hammond from the high slot with a wrist shot with 6:36 left in the third.

"It's hard to score in this league, so anyone getting a hat trick deserves a lot of credit, but especially a defenseman," Vanek said.

Said Detroit coach Jeff Blashill: "Today, (Green) was really aggressive and getting his shot on to the net. I think we'll see that last year was an adjustment after playing his whole career with another team. That's tough for anyone."

Green had seven goals and 35 points in 2015-16.

Helm added a power-play goal for his second of the game and third of the season with 2:56 remaining in the game.

Dzingel put Ottawa on the board with a short-handed goal 8:51 into the second period to reduce the margin to 3-1. His attempted pass across the crease deflected off the stick of Detroit forward Riley Sheahan and past Mrazek. It was Dzingel's second goal and second in two games.

Detroit led 3-0 at the end of the first period after scoring three goals in 5:34.

Green got his first goal of the game and the season with 8:17 left in the opening period when his wrist shot from the high slot trickled in off the glove of Hammond.

Helm scored on a breakaway with 5:45 left in the first. It was his second goal of the season.

Green's second goal came on a power play with 2:43 remaining in the first period. He ripped a one-time slap shot from the high slot past Hammond.

There was a tribute to Gordie Howe during a stoppage of play in the middle of the first period. The Red Wings legend and Hall of Famer, known as Mr. Hockey, died on June 10 at the age of 88.

NOTE: Ottawa LW Matt Puempel made his season debut. He replaced F Phil Varone in the lineup. ... The only line that has remained intact for Detroit in its three games has been the third line of C Darren Helm between LW Tomas Vanek and RW Gustav Nyquist. "Helmer's line has been really good, but we're still looking for some new combinations," Red Wings coach Jeff Blashill said. The Red Wings have also used several different defensive combinations. ... It was the first of back-to-back games for the Senators. They host the Arizona Coyotes on Tuesday. ... Detroit played its final home opener at Joe Louis Arena, where the Red Wings have played since 1979.