DENVER, Colorado -- The Detroit Red Wings lost a two-goal lead in the second period Thursday night but fought off the charge by the Colorado Avalanche to earn a 4-2 win. The victory was their fourth in a row, all coming on the road.
Valtteri Filppula scored twice for the second game in a row, giving the Red Wings a 2-0 lead late in the first period.
With 7:04 left in the period, Filppula raced down the right wing and threw a backhander on net. Goalie Peter Budaj made the stop but the rebound deflected off of defender Brett Clark and back into the net.
Just 4:09 later, a long shot by Niklas Kronwall was knocked aside by Budaj at the top of the crease. Filppula was at the side of the net to control the puck, putting it with Budaj still out of position.
The Avalanche countered with 1:23 left in the period, when Cody MacLeod picked off a Brian Rafalski pass at the Detroit blue line, breaking in alone on Dominik Hasek and putting a quick shot past him.
At 5:56 of the second period, Marek Svatos tied the game up. Svatos went uncovered on a Colorado odd-man rush and after Hasek made the initial stop on a chance by Jaroslav Hlinka, Svatos was free to put in the rebound from the slot.
Jiri Hudler scored the go-ahead goal with 9:00 left in the middle frame. Hudler was outmanned carrying the puck down the right wing and waited for Kris Draper to catch up, passing to him. Draper sent it right back to Hudler, calling for a shot. Hudler, who had been looking to pass, snapped a shot over Budaj's shoulder and into the net.
A strong push by Colorado in the third period wouldn't be enough to even the game. With 11 seconds left, Mikael Samuelsson added an empty-net goal to wrap things up.
Neither team scored any of their goals on the power play. Detroit had only one chance with the extra attacker while the Avalanche had four.
Hasek stopped 22 of 24 shots against to get the win. Budaj made 25 saves on 28 shots.
The Red Wings will wrap up their season-long five game road trip on Saturday in Phoenix.
Notes: Playing their second game in as many nights, the Red Wings only lineup changes were Derek Meech in for Chris Chelios on defense and Hasek starting in goal in place of Chris Osgood.
Strangely, for a night where the Wings play the Avs, family in from Denver could cause me to miss part of the game. Weird.
Hasek gets the start, not sure who's in net for Colorado.
The Denver Post reports that Ryan Smyth will play tonight. Joe Sakic still out with groin injury and Sauer out with concussion.
I'm caught up with realtime... Wings don't look so great. Hard time getting control of the puck in their own zone and not getting a lot of good chances in the Avs' end.
And as I say that, Dr. Fil scores. Nice.
Holy sh*t, Fil! Way to frikkin' go!
Ugh, awful giveaway by Rafalski but yet another time when Dom doesn't make the big stop.
Only 2 words to say..Filppula, Filppula
Ugh, awful giveaway by Rafalski but yet another time when Dom doesn't make the big stop.
Great effort by the WINGS over all in the opening period. Even with AV pressure, the WINGS did win with puck control. On the downside, a bad break by Raffy with a turnover. The WING D has given up a couple of goals this year in clearing attempts with cross ice passes. One such clearing pass by LILJA earlier this year. If I recall, a similar turn-over by the WING D (believe it was LILJA) also occurred during the Conference Final series with the DUCKS last season that resulted in an untimely goal.
While I agree that DOM is the last line of defense and his play to make crucial stops has been suspect at times, MCLEODs goal was earned with a strong effort. I'd like to view a close-up on that one to see if it was DOM's position that contributed to the goal on the short side.
Oh, yeah, I'm not blaming Hasek for giving up the goal, I'm just saying he could have made the save. In a big game, the goalie's gotta make every save he can.
Same with the Svatos goal, Dom didn't even see where the rebound went.
Random thought: I wouldn't have given Chelios the night off tonight. Maybe last night instead if you really want to keep him out of back-to-backs, but Colorado is a team you want him in for.
Random thought: I wouldn't have given Chelios the night off tonight. Maybe last night instead if you really want to keep him out of back-to-backs, but Colorado is a team you want him in for.
You're right. Meech is no Chelios. That 2nd Avs goal might not have happened with Cheli in there.
You're kidding me. Weak-ass call on Lidstrom with a few minutes left. Yet the Avs have only taken on penalty.
I'm even more sour about the Lidstrom call after seeing Datsyuk hauled down along the boards near the empty net and nothing called. But it worked out in the end. Ridiculous roll the Wings are on.
How could you not love a team like Detroit? After all we have a Doctor, magician, and a mule! 
Great game, I will be sporting the jersey at work an there will also be a powerpoint presentation to follow from some die hard Avs fans!
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