DETROIT, Michigan -- The Detroit Red Wings survived two lackluster periods of hockey Tuesday night by scoring three times in the third period to pick up a 3-0 win over the Columbus Blue Jackets.
The victory came despite being outshot 35-23 on the night.
Neither team scored until Kyle Calder got Detroit on the board just 16 seconds into the final frame.
Calder laid a hit on Columbus defenseman Ron Hainsey at the bottom of the left faceoff circle in the Blue Jackets' zone, knocking the puck loose. He picked it up and cut to the net, backhanding a shot past goaltender Fredrik Norrena.
Todd Bertuzzi would pad the lead with 2:24 remaining and the Blue Jackets pressuring, going to the front of the net and knocking the puck past Norrena on a second chance.
Kris Draper added an empty net goal with 47 seconds remaining and the Red Wings killing a penalty.
Dominik Hasek held on to preserve the shutout after losing one on Sunday when the Blue Jackets scored their only goal of the game with 59 seconds remaining.
Neither team scored a power play goal. They each had six tries with the extra skater.
The win, combined with the Nashville Predators' shootout loss to the Chicago Blackhawks, means that one point earned by the Red Wings or failed to be earned by the Predators will clinch the Central Division for Detroit. Both teams have two games remaining.
The Red Wings will close out their season with a home-and-home series against the Blackhawks starting on Thursday in Chicago.
Notes: Detroit was without defenseman Mathieu Schneider, who sat out with a sore elbow. Nicklas Lidstrom returned to the lineup after missing Sunday's game with a back sprain.
The last week of the season kicks off with the Wings and Blue Jackets on national TV. Detroit hasn't won on NBC since, what, January? It's been awhile. With Nashville's loss last night, Detroit has the chance to pull three points up on the Predators and two points up on Anaheim. They'll have to do so without Niklas Kronwall (fractured hip, done for the season) and Nicklas Lidstrom (sprained back, expected to return on Tuesday). Kyle Quincey is up and I assume Brett Lebda will return to the lineup.
The Wings survived a slow start. They miss Lidstrom and Kronwall.
I was going to wait until intermission but the Datsyuk goal was too nice to wait on. Catmandu's comment: "Poor goalie."
Much better period. (No kidding?)
Lebda gets back in the lineup and gets some points. Datsyuk scores one of his insane goals (Norrena looked like he knew he was going to be scored on once Datsyuk hit the blue line. Hope Detroit can do a better job of holding a three-goal lead today than they did on Friday.
Bill Clement (I think it was) just said something like...The Wings just have to hold a three goal lead in the third period and they will be alone in first"...Didn't I just hear that Friday night...lol...I think things will go better today though.
And they did end up much better. The Wings didn't go to sleep like they did on Friday, very important that they stick with it, don't want to get into bad habits just in time for the playoffs.
Good to see that, even though he went down, Markov seems to be fine. No more injuries.
I didn't see much of the game, but I'm pleased with the outcome. Dom's shut out was erased on an ugly goal, but all-in-all a strong game by the Red Machine.
Dom fell asleep again... so much for the shutout
Another one Dom can't be blamed on. Not that the shutout mattered anyway.
Weird-ass first period. Wings are slow again. Lots of penalties.
After two periods I have to say the Jackets outplayed the Wings. Wings can't get set up and too many penalties. Nash and company are swarming all around WINGS standing around, or running around all over in their own end. Not a good sign.
Agreed.
But then Calder goes and gets the Wings on the board!
Calder got hosed on that call, true he was guilty but the cross-check deserved one as well
Agreed.
But then Calder goes and gets the Wings on the board!
My gawd, Calder and company sure made me eat crow .... Not 30 seconds after I posted my comment, he scores a dandy ...... Calder has been A+ acquisition by the WINGS ...... 
The WINGS sure redeemed themselves in my mind in the third, especially the last 10 minutes. DOM came up big on the take away to keep the Jackets from evening the score. That play could have changed the whole complexion of the game, had DOM missed ... WOW .
Now to see what happens in the Hawk / Pred game .............. Geesshh ... 
Now to see what happens in the Hawk / Pred game .............. Geesshh ...
Yep, I'm scoreboard watching now. I'll hold off on the game recap until after seeing if Nashville comes up with a point.
Glad to see the Wings with their typical third period dominance but they can't count on that in the playoffs. Of course, they probably won't be playing down to anyone in the playoffs so maybe that won't be an issue in the first place.
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