Vet Winnik gets job done in defeat

DETROIT — Evgeny Svechnikov scored at 1:42 of overtime to lift the Red Wings to a 4-3 victory last night at Little Caesers Arena, handing the Bruins their first loss of the preseason. Cameron Hughes, Daniel Winnik and Axel Andersson scored for the B’s, who overcame a two-goal third period deficit but could not seal the deal in OT.

On the winner, Winnik was taken down from behind and crashed into the end boards — he thought he was tripped — and the loose puck went to Luke Glendening, who fed Svechnikov out front for the goal.

It was a tough way to end the game for Winnik, but the veteran who is with the team on a tryout agreement continued to make a bid for a job. He played both wing and center and his goal, a slapper from the high slot, started the B’s comeback. If none of the three young centers — Jakob Forsbacka Karlsson, Trent Frederic or Jack Studnicka — seizes the third line center job, it’s conceivable Winnik could land a contract, possibly as a fourth line center with Sean Kuraly bumping up to the third unit.

There are three more preseason games left for jobs to be won, but Winnik is feeling good about what he’s been able to accomplish so far.

“Bruce (Cassidy, the B’s coach) had me playing left wing and center and I thought my line as a whole played pretty well. I thought we didn’t have too much time in the (defensive) zone, we had quick exits and we were handling the puck all night in the offensive zone,” Winnik said.

Winnik has played all three preseason games in the states and he’s expected to play tomorrow night in Philadelphia.

“It’s always a good sign when you’re playing games as a guy on a PTO. It’s worse when you’re not, so we’ll see going forward what happens but they’ll probably try and get a lot of guys into games. I just hope I can get in,” said Winnik.

Winnik has played more left wing than center in his career, but he said he’s feeling more comfortable in the middle.

“Some more practices and a little better understanding of the system, especially in the (defensive) zone,” he said. “That’s something I’ve had to get used to. Last year (in Minnesota) we were pretty much a strict man-on-man and here you’ve got some interchanging and I think I’ve been slowly progressing.”

Though noncommittal about Winnik’s future with the team, Cassidy liked what he saw last night.

“He’s doing what we figured he would,” Cassidy said. “The (game-winner) is a tough one. He got hit from behind and unfortunately they were able to recover. But he scored a nice goal. He’s played center and he’s played the wing. He’s done what we’ve asked. I’m not surprised. He’s been in the league a long time and been successful.”

Andersson tied the game on a late power play, blasting a feed from Zdeno Chara past goalie Jimmy Howard with 5:13 to go.

“I was so happy when it went in and Chara came to me and said ‘You deserve it, kid.’ I was so happy,” Andersson said.

Andersson, taken with the 57th overall pick in last June’s draft, got sliced on the forearm with a skate blade and was also dinged on the nose for his troubles.

“It was a crazy game for me as an individual. I got beat up. I got 18 stitches and I had a nosebleed and stuff like that. But it was fun. It was worth it when I scored,” Andersson said.

Said Cassidy: “Yeah, he took a bit of beating tonight. His arm got cut and then his nose. He’s got lots of will. He wants the puck and he’s got good composure. He’s willing to try things and he’ll learn what he can get away with and what he can’t. I like his game.”

Bruins notes

Steven Kampfer picked up another two assists, giving him four in two games . . . .

Hughes has two goals in his last two games, both coming on tip-ins . . . .

Zane McIntyre stopped 21-of25 shots and took the loss . . . .

Martin Bakos suffered a lower body injury and couldn’t finish the game.