DETROIT – Forwards Tomas Nosek and Andrej Nestrasil were two of the Detroit Red Wings unknown commodities entering the preseason.

Nosek is new to North America after playing in the Czech Elite League the last three seasons while Nestrasil hadn't appeared in an NHL exhibition game during his first three pro seasons in the Red Wings' organization.

But the two Czechs took a step in the right direction Thursday night, getting a goal and an assist apiece in a 3-2 victory over the Chicago Blackhawks at Joe Louis Arena.

"Nosek was really good, and Nestrasil is getting better," said coach Mike Babcock. "Those guys in particular were really good. (Nosek is) a man. He's smart, he's confident, he's a good player, he's got skill, he does good things. Big body, I really like him a lot.

"Nesty's a guy that struggled when he first started here and he's really got himself in shape and looks like he's going to be a player. Nosek is a player."

Babcock paired Nosek, 22, and Nestrasil, 23, on a line with six-year veteran Justin Abdelkader, who tried to help both of the youngsters whenever possible.

"I tried to talk to them a lot," said Abdelkader, who had two assists. "The big thing for them is you're going to make mistakes as a young guy. Systems are new. Nesty has been here for a while but Nosek, this is new for him and I think the big thing is just go out and play.

"Don't worry about making mistakes. Be good with the puck and I thought both those guys played well in Chicago and followed it up with a good game tonight. Those two have played well together. Like I said, they played really good in Chicago and they played good again tonight.

"They're smart with the puck and they make plays, see the ice well and can get up and down the ice."

Nosek, who was the youngest top-10 scorer in the Czech Elite League last season with 19 goals and 25 assists in 52 games, gave the Red Wings a 2-0 lead 29 seconds into the third period when he slipped a backhand past Michael Leighton.

It was his first point in two preseason games after he was blanked in Tuesday 's 2-1 overtime loss in Chicago.

"I felt good," said Nosek, who was signed as a free agent during the summer. "I know I had time because the goalie didn't have his stick, so I tried to put it between the pads, but it went in. Everything is faster with the speed so you have to check everything.

"The most difference is with the speed. Not a lot of time to react to things. It was a really good game for us. Most important that we won the game. I scored a goal, so I'm very happy."

Nestrasil also used a backhand to score what proved to be the game-winner, giving the Red Wings a 3-1 lead midway through the third.

A third-round draft choice by the Red Wings in 2009, Nestrasil has been patiently waiting for an opportunity. He played 25 games in back-to-back seasons with Grand Rapids before scoring 16 goals in 70 games with the Griffins last season.

He was excited to score his first NHL goal even if it was an exhibition game.

"I was drafted five years ago and I didn't get to play in an exhibition game until this year," he said. "This is a breakthrough year for me so every time I'm on the ice I just want to make the most of it. I'm going to celebrate every single goal, even if it's an exhibition game or even if it was a scrimmage.

"I didn't play much (for) two years and a half in Grand Rapids. Christmas there was a lot of injuries and coach started to play me a little more. I got more opportunity and I think I made most of it. I worked on my speed because I think that was the biggest issue. I think I got faster, I lost some weight and I feel way better on the ice."

Tomas Tatar scored the Red Wings other goal and Jimmy Howard turned aside 26 shots. In five periods over two games, Howard has a 1.88 goals-against average and .944 save percentage.

"I thought he's been good," Babcock said. "Howie tells me he feels better than he has in a long time. So that's fantastic. If Howie can have good health issue – he didn't feel right last year, he's feeling good now, his conditioning he's worked hard this summer and so he's going to reap the benefits of that and so are we."

Defenseman Xavier Ouellet had a plus-3 rating for the Red Wings (2-0-1).

Bryan Bickell and Garrett Ross scored for Chicago (1-1).

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