David Duprey - AP
The Buffalo Sabres' Nathan Gerbe, center, tries to keep the Boston Bruins' Dennis Seidenberg, right, off the puck in front of Bruins goalie Tuukka Rask Wednesday.
DETROIT -- Drew Miller and Henrik Zetterberg scored in the third period, and the Detroit Red Wings extended their home winning streak to 18 games with a 4-2 victory over the Edmonton Oilers on Wednesday night.
The Red Wings overcame two more goals by Edmonton's Sam Gagner to move within two wins of the NHL record of 20 straight home victories, set by the Boston Bruins during the 1929-30 season and matched by Philadelphia in 1976. The Bruins also won 19 in a row in Boston during the 1970-71 season.
Johan Franzen and Cory Emmerton also scored for Detroit, but Gagner answered with a pair of goals to tie the game. He has eight goals and six assists in four games.
Sabres 6, Bruins 0: With Buffalo Sabres coach Lindy Ruff nursing three broken ribs and watching from the press box, goalie Ryan Miller made 36 saves to earn his second shutout in three games in a win over Boston.
Jason Pominville scored twice, set up both times up by Ville Leino, and helped Buffalo improve to 4-0-1 in its past five. Tyler Ennis had a goal and assist, and Drew Stafford, Christian Ehrhoff and Patrick Kaleta also scored for Buffalo, 5-0-4 in its past nine home games.
The Northeast Division-leading Bruins fell to 5-6-1 in their past 12 games. Boston, which won at Washington on Sunday, hasn't won two straight victories since beating Winnipeg and Montreal on Jan. 10-12.
Board gives stamp of approval: The University of Michigan Board of Regents authorized athletic director Dave Brandon to seek a contract with the NHL that would allow the league to hold next year's Winter Classic at Michigan Stadium.
The board called the special meeting to discuss renting the stadium to the league for the outdoor hockey game. The NHL also said it would have a major announcement Thursday at Detroit's Comerica Park - with additional media availability in Ann Arbor that same day.
According to the recommendation approved by the board, the Winter Classic would be scheduled for Jan. 1, 2013, with an alternate date of Jan. 2 - and the NHL has offered to pay up to $3 million for a license to use the iconic college football stadium.
Buffalo, Chicago, Boston, Pittsburgh and Philadelphia have all hosted the Winter Classic, but a game at Michigan Stadium could draw the league's largest crowd.
The Wolverines and rival Michigan State attracted a Guinness World Record 104,173 people for a hockey game on Dec. 11, 2010.
Jackets extend Prospal: The Columbus Blue Jackets signed left wing Vinny Prospal to a one-year contract extension through next season.
Prospal, 36, signed with the Blue Jackets in July and has nine goals and 24 assists in 53 games with Columbus. Flames re-sign Smith: Calgary re-signed defenseman Derek Smith to a $1.55 million, two-year contract.
Smith is currently sidelined with a high ankle sprain. He has two goals and eight assists in 32 games this season.
