Jiri Hudler snapped a tie just over five minutes into the third period and Jimmy Howard turned aside 45 shots as the Detroit Red Wings skated to a 3-2 triumph over the visiting New York Rangers on Monday in a battle of Original Six rivals.

Defending Selke Trophy winner Pavel Datsyuk collected a goal and an assist in his return to the ice and Drew Miller also tallied as Central Division-leading Detroit (32-15-6) rebounded from back-to-back shutout losses.

With the game tied at 1-1, Hudler accepted a brilliant cross-slot feed from Jonathan Ericsson and beat Martin Biron for his fifth goal of the season at 5:04 of the third period.

After Miller gave the Red Wings a two-goal cushion, Howard permitted a late goal to Brandon Dubinsky but was able to keep New York at bay to secure his second career win in as many outings against the Rangers. The 26-year-old Empire State native improved to 26-9-3 on the season.

Playing in his first game since breaking his right wrist against the Vancouver Canucks on Dec. 22, Datsyuk opened the scoring at 2:52 of the second period.

The 32-year-old Russian backhanded a shot on Biron, then collected his own rebound for his 13th goal of the season. The tally ended Detroit's scoring drought at 143 minutes, 18 seconds.

Rookie Derek Stepan also scored and Biron finished with 32 saves for New York (29-23-4), which has dropped five in a row and eight of its last 11.