DETROIT -- Brian Rafalski is using the preseason to get accustomed to a new defense partner.

Tomas Holmstrom needs these exhibitions to brush up on the NHL's in-the-crease rule. And Jiri Hudler is spending this time getting reacquainted with teammates and the club's style of play after being gone for a season.

They all teamed up to help the Detroit Red Wings defeat the New York Rangers 5-3 in a preseason game Sunday at Joe Louis Arena.

Rafalski had a goal and three assists in his preseason debut, three days after having some fluid drained from his knee. Holmstrom's goal snapped a 3-3 tie at 4:08 of the third period, after his team had a goal disallowed in the second period because he was in the crease. Hudler, playing his first game with the Red Wings in more than 15 months, chipped in with an assist.

"I was happy, no effects (from his knee), a little bit of rust," Rafalski said. "I find games easier than practices. You're in the flow, you know what's going on around you. Plays come to you as you're playing."

Dan Cleary and Henrik Zetterberg each had a goal and an assist and Patrick Eaves also scored for Detroit, which evened its exhibition record at 2-2.

Jimmy Howard played the entire game in net, stopping 18-of-21 shots.

After playing alongside Nicklas Lidstrom for most of the past three seasons, Rafalski doesn't anticipate a big adjustment being paired with Brad Stuart, a physical, stay-at-home defender.

"There will be some issues here and there but you work those out," Rafalski said. "Mistakes happen throughout the season. The focus is getting better throughout the year."

Stuart has a bigger adjustment, moving from the right side, where he has played virtually all his career and feels more comfortable, to the left.

"(Rafalski) moves the puck well, he's smart, he's been around for a while," Stuart said. "When you have those attributes, it does make it easier to adjust to.

"Guys have different tendencies, plays they like to make. It takes a little bit of time to figure those things out. As long as you talk about it, work together, it'll be fine."

Holmstrom put his team ahead for good by taking a pass from Zetterberg and firing a short-side wrist shot past goaltender Chad Johnson, who entered the game at the start of the third period.

Rafalski appeared to snap a 3-3 tie with his second goal of the game late in the second period, but it was disallowed. Officials ruled that Holmstrom was in the crease. Replays showed Holmstrom's skates were on the edge of the crease, although he did not interfere with goalie Martin Biron's ability to play the puck.

"I was outside the crease when the shot was taken, but (the referee) said he yelled to me right before the shot that I was in the crease and the goalie couldn't come out and cover his angle," Holmstrom said. "But when the shot was taken the goalie was back in the crease.

"If the goalie wants to go out at the top of the crease and I'm standing on the line, it's goaltender interference. But he can't just go and bump me and go back."

It's the second time in the preseason the Red Wings have had an apparent goal waved off because Holmstrom was in the crease.

"I got to make sure they can't bust me on those type of calls," Holmstrom said. "Just try to step further out."

Eaves sealed the win by blasting in a one-timer with 2:30 remaining.

The Rangers capitalized on a couple of turnovers to score goals 26 seconds apart and tie the game at 3-3.

Cleary couldn't corral a pass from Nicklas Lidstrom, leading to Erik Christensen's goal at 11:38, on a hard wrist shot from the faceoff circle.

Jakub Kindl coughed up the puck at the point on the power play, leading to a two-on-one break that Artem Anisimov converted for a shorthanded goal at 12:04.

Howard called his game "so-so."

"I didn't like my second period, thought I could have been better, letting them back in the game," Howard said. "Sort of gave them a freebie on the second one, trying to keep the play going, probably should have covered it.

"But I thought I played pretty good in the first and the third."

Mike Modano sat out the game after experiencing some tightness in his groin after the morning skate. The team is off Monday and coach Mike Babcock said Modano likely will return to practice Tuesday.

His absence enabled Justin Abdelkader to center the line with Cleary and Hudler, which was Babcock's plan before the club signed Modano. Abdelkader was engaged physically, dishing out a few good hits and crashing the net.

"That line was good," Babcock said. "Cleary really skated. Abby's a big body and he was grinding. Huds can make plays, he's quick. Those are good players, so that should be a good line for us."

Hudler was back after missing a couple of days with a bruised foot.

"I played my last game in March (with Dynamo Moscow in Russia), so it's been a long time, but I felt pretty good," Hudler said.

The Red Wings struck fast in the first period, getting goals from Cleary at 1:45 and Zetterberg at 3:55.

Cleary, parked in front of the net, banged in the rebound of a wrist shot by Rafalski. Zetterberg scored on a backhand shot from in front of the net, after taking a pass from Holmstrom. Rafalski made it possible by stretching to keep the puck in the zone.

The Rangers' Sean Avery scored at 8:35 of the first. Rafalski made is 3-1 at 5:42 of the second by firing in a shot from the high slot after taking a pass from Cleary.