MONTREAL, Quebec -- On a night when their Original Six rivalry was honored with a pre-game ceremony, the Detroit Red Wings defeated the Montreal Canadiens, 4-1.
Former Canadiens Jean Beliveau, Dickie Moore, Jean-Guy Talbot, Stephane Richer, and Claude Lemieux and former Red Wings Gordie Howe, Ted Lindsay, Alex Delvecchio, Marcel Pronovost, and Marcel Dionne were all on hand for the ceremony. Current Red Wing and former Canadien Chris Chelios also participated.
The game began with scoring chances by each team but neither would get on the board until there was only 3:20 left in the first period.
After a giveaway in the Montreal zone, Pavel Datsyuk grabbed the puck and outwaited a Canadien defenseman, freezing him and putting a shot between his legs, slipping it between the pads of goalie Carey Price to give the Red Wings a 1-0 lead.
Christopher Higgins evened the game up at 4:15 of the second on a broken play. Saku Koivu's shot from the left circle defected to Higgins off the skate of Aaron Downey. From the bottom of the circle, Higgins lifted a shot over goalie Dominik Hasek.
Datsyuk put the Wings out in front again with 8:58 remaining in the middle period, scoring on a wrister from the top of the right circle.
Niklas Kronwall extended the Detroit lead just 2:37 later, scoring on a fluttering shot from the blue line that may have been deflected on its way to the net.
Henrik Zetterberg wrapped up the game's scoring on the power play with 6:10 remaining in the game, beating Price with a quick wrister from the high slot.
Price made 30 saves on 34 shots against and Hasek stopped 14 of 15.
Zetterberg's goal was the lone power play goal for either team. The Red Wings had three chances with the extra attacker and Montreal had five.
Dominik Hasek gets the start in the Red Wings' only matchup against the Montreal Canadiens of the season... And every fact in that sentence comes out sounding wrong. It's wrong to play the Habs only once and with how much Chris Osgood has been playing, it sounds wrong to say that Hasek's in net.
The game's on Versus in the US which means that we miss out on the pre-game ceremony hono(u)ring the Detroit-Montreal rivalry.
Price is looking really good, playing very well positionally so far.
Datsyuk's goal was a bit of luck, probably shouldn't have gotten through Price.
Price is a beaut...positionally solid...rarely looks spectacular because he is never out of position...Still gives up his share of softies as seen by both goals tonight.
How about these Habs though Clark? Have you ever seen a team spend so much time in the corners? No one goes to the net.
Oops...there's #3...Not sure he saw it.
I'm liking the pressure the Wings are putting on the Habs but I can't help but think the goals have all been with a bit of luck. I'll take it, of course, but I'd feel better with a real finesse goal.
The Habs keep looking like they can't get set up properly. Maybe it is that they don't come out of the corners. Also not seeing a lot of passes along the blue line.
I watch every game en francais, even though I don't speak it and the two things they cannot do is enter the zone or put someone in front of the net.
I get tired of seeing three guys in the corner...They are busting their asses...but who are they gonna pass to?
Didn't expect much vs Wings and I'm not disappointed 
I saw that on the power play, a bunch of guys on the puck and they either still don't come away with it or they have no one to go to when they do.
Dom just came up big. Quiet night for him but that's a good one to see.
Was that Dandenault that just dove in there?!
That was funny...saw the long name and figured it was Komisarek...it was Dandy swinging his purse and all
Hab fans are booing them...If I was there, I would be more than happy to join in. Carbonneau is one of my favourite all-time players, but a team of lesser talented Carbonneaus doesn't work.
Yeah, I don't blame them for being p*ssed. Always hate to see fans booing their own team but it happens.
Good on Begin for going after Lilja himself. Not sure how bad the hit really was but Begin took care of it himself.
A favourable schedule for my guys the rest of the month will get the bandwagon full again.
Understatement of the night...Wings deserved to win.
Sorry I am late, I was stuck in traffic. Thank God for XM!!! I have two words for the Habs, PUCK CONTROL!!!! Sorry Stormo, I still have much respect for your team
I am so happy to see Hasek with the W. I still don't think he's washed-up and what-not.
I didn't really see Smolinski out tonight(sad) or maybe I just wasn't paying enough attention.
Datsyuk captured my interest most of the game again tonight, nothing new.
I am happy someone tried to beat Lilja up, I am still laughing about the...'fight'. Majorly air quoted
Dominik Hasek gets the start in the Red Wings' only matchup against the Montreal Canadiens of the season... And every fact in that sentence comes out sounding wrong. It's wrong to play the Habs only once and with how much Chris Osgood has been playing, it sounds wrong to say that Hasek's in net.
The game's on Versus in the US which means that we miss out on the pre-game ceremony hono(u)ring the Detroit-Montreal rivalry.
I'm disappointed the WINGS and CANADIENS only meet once this year as well. Not being able to view the pre-game honors is a also a disappointment.
That was an amazing game to watch. I live with a Habs fan and he was besides himself... and $20 poorer after all was said and done!
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