ST. PAUL, Minnesota -- Without two-thirds of their top forward line, the Detroit Red Wings still shut down the Minnesota Wild Saturday night, winning 4-1 while outshooting them 51-19.
The 51 shots were a season-high for Detroit.
Minnesota's Marian Gaborik, who scored five goals on Thursday against the New York Rangers, tallied only one assist and was -2 with two shots.
Gaborik's point came on a Kim Johnsson power play goal with nine seconds left in the second period. Gaborik sent a cross-ice feed from the right wing to Johnsson for a shot into the top of the net.
The goal made cut Detroit's lead to 3-1.
Detroit got on the board with a power play goal at 6:57 of the first period. A Valtteri Filppula shot into the top of the net was knocked down by the stick of goalie Niklas Backstrom, sprawled out on the ice. Pavel Datsyuk was on the doorstep, though, and banged in the rebound.
Second-period goals just 45 seconds apart gave the Wings a 3-0 lead.
With 4:46 left in the period, Johan Franzen carried the puck behind the net for a wraparound attempt, coming out wide and using defenseman Sean Hill as a screen. Backstrom came off the near post and Franzen fired a shot into the top corner.
Dan Cleary scored Detroit's second of the period on a long outlet pass from Nicklas Lidstrom. With the Wild pushing into the Detroit zone, Lidstrom grabbed the loose puck and flung it out to Cleary, behind the Minnesota defense in the neutral zone. Cleary caught up with it at the Wild blue line and broke in on Backstrom alone, snapping a shot past him.
Tomas Kopecky wrapped up the game's scoring at 9:59 of the third period. Brian Rafalski threw the puck on net and Backstrom couldn't control the rebound. Kopecky fought off a defender to get to the puck and shovel it into the net.
Backstrom finished the night with 47 saves to Dominik Hasek's 18.
Each team scored once on the power play. Detroit had seven chances with the extra attacker and Minnesota had two.
The Red Wings will be back on the ice after the holiday break, meeting the Blues in St. Louis on Wednesday night.
Notes: Mark Hartigan, who was planning to travel to Minnesota over the holiday break anyway, was called up from Grand Rapids to fill in for the injured Zetterberg... Kirk Maltby was also still out of the lineup... Cleary and Filppula replaced Tomas Holmstrom and Henrik Zetterberg on Datsyuk's line.
The Wild are hot with a five game wining streak. After the loss to the Blues the boys should be hungry for a win going into what is being called the new Hockeytown.
Dr Fil is my pick for player of the game
I've got a feeling about Hudler tonight.
Some of the beat writers are saying a Wing other than Holmstrom could miss play tonight. A2Y suggests Samuelsson. I've got no info and I'll be gone all day at a family party so I won't be finding anything out.
No Zetterberg tonite...back spasms
Yep, Z is the one out, not Samuelsson. Cleary and Filppula up to the top line. Hartigan is up.
Dom is looking solid, let's see if it lasts
Dr. Fil is the man! Powerplay goal!
Game note:
Lidstrom is playing in game number 1212 and has 899 career points
Nice to see a bunch of Wings around the net on that power play goal. Gotta get in close like that more often.
The "Grinch" bit on FSN is hysterical. So far Hasek takes the cake. Haven't seen if Chelios did a reading. Somehow I think he'd be hard to beat.
Cleary and Filppula up to the top line. Hartigan is up.
Yay! 
Dr. Fil is the man! Powerplay goal!
Hahaha, that's a cute nickname.
Nice to see a bunch of Wings around the net on that power play goal. Gotta get in close like that more often.
I thought you were afk? Oh well, tervetuloa! 
And that it is. Happy they got the first one in; they look a lot better from the last game.
The "Grinch" bit on FSN is hysterical. So far Hasek takes the cake. Haven't seen if Chelios did a reading. Somehow I think he'd be hard to beat.
I totally agree Pavel could barely read it. My favorite was 'Dr. Fil' as he is now called in this thread ;D but that is totally biased.
I thought you were afk? Oh well, tervetuloa!
Just for the day, which is why the Zetterberg/Hartigan update didn't get made sooner. Got back home at about 7:58, I've got good timing.
No way that Franzen goal should have happened. Bad move by Backstrom.
Wow. Smart, smart pass by Lidstrom on the Cleary goal.
How convenient that the Wild score on a power play that shouldn't have happened and a play where the ref held the puck in for them.
How convenient that the Wild score on a power play that shouldn't have happened and a play where the ref held the puck in for them.
Looks like the Wings will need to outplay Minnesota AND the Officials tonite!
The Wings seem to have a knack for getting screwed by the refs.
Look at Nick shut Gaborik down.
Nice job by Kopecky to stay calm at the stop of the crease and find the puck. I like what he's been doing.
Good job Wings! Now it's time to watch the Canucks beat some dogs in Phoenix.
Pretty much a complete game by the Wings tonight. Good way to go into the break.
Cleary and Filppula up to the top line. Hartigan is up.
Yay!Dr. Fil is the man! Powerplay goal!
Hahaha, that's a cute nickname.Nice to see a bunch of Wings around the net on that power play goal. Gotta get in close like that more often.
I thought you were afk? Oh well, tervetuloa!And that it is. Happy they got the first one in; they look a lot better from the last game.
The "Grinch" bit on FSN is hysterical. So far Hasek takes the cake. Haven't seen if Chelios did a reading. Somehow I think he'd be hard to beat.
I totally agree
Hey .... I resent that .... I was the poster who dubbed Filps, "Dr. Fil" a couple games ago ..... I get the feeling you guys don't like me much .....???? Too bad -- I don't care ... haha.
But "Dr. Fil" is mine ... all mine ... until I posted it, I never saw it here on this forum.
G'nite all.
Oh by the way ... Way to go WINGS. GREAT PERFORMANCE ALL THE WAY AROUND.
Hey .... I resent that .... I was the poster who dubbed Filps, "Dr. Fil" a couple games ago ..... I get the feeling you guys don't like me much .....???? Too bad -- I don't care ... haha.
But "Dr. Fil" is mine ... all mine ... until I posted it, I never saw it here on this forum.
G'nite all.
Oh by the way ... Way to go WINGS. GREAT PERFORMANCE ALL THE WAY AROUND.
I'm sorry D: I didn't know >< May I use it, oh great-hockey-nickname-guru?
[ssh, sucking up totally works wonders ;D]
It was a great performance, pretty good game with lots of scoring. Too bad the one goal by Lebda was waved off. =/
(And a delayed g'night, as well)
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