COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Detroit netminder Chris Osgood stopped al 23 shots he faced Sunday night, leading the Red Wings to a 4-0 win over the Columbus Blue Jackets.
The shutout was the 49th of Osgood's career and his 385th career win, tying him with former Red Wing Mike Vernon for 11th all-time. He now sits four wins behind Dominik Hasek for 10th all-time.
With the win, the Red Wings clinched a playoff spot for the 18th consecutive season and reached 100 standings points for an NHL-record nine seasons in a row.
Marian Hossa scored from the side of the net 5:09 into the first period, getting the Wings on the board after an apparent goal in the game's first minute was waved off due to Tomas Holmstrom having a foot in the crease.
With the Red Wings on a five-on-three 3:53 later, Niklas Kronwall blasted a shot past Columbus goalie Steve Mason to put Detroit up by a pair.
Mikael Samuelsson beat Mason on odd-man rush slap shot with 1:32 remaining in the second period.
At 9:40 of the third period, Johan Franzen sent many of the Columbus fans at Nationwide Arena packing, cutting through the top of the crease and putting a backhander in behind Mason to finish off the game's scoring.
Kronwall's goal was the only power play goal by either team. Detroit had five tries with the extra attacker while the Blue Jackets had four.
Mason stopped 26 of the Red Wings' 30 shots.
Notes: Detroit was without forward Valtteri Filppula who missed the game with back spasms. Defenseman Derek Meech was shifted to forward to take his spot in the lineup.
Checking in from the Gordon Biersch next to Nationwide Arena. A novel concept, things to do right at the arena.
Google Maps was way off, took 30 minutes less than they said to get here.
The Blue Jackets sell an "Old Time Hockey" t-shirt. That seems so wrong.
That is kinda redundant. :| How long have they been a team, now?
Haha, the Amy Winehouse of hockey 
That's pretty funny.
I am already miss Dr. Fil!
There was a goal, and Holmstrom was in the crease so guess what! NO GOAL How awesome is that? Huh, am I right?
It seems like the refs were really hard on Homer in the beginning of the year, but people started complaining and being verbal, so they stopped. And now it seems like he's getting a bunch of crap again.
Awful call waving off the goal. Mick was waving his hands all p*ssed.
Cool, Hossa got a goal. Didn't expect it to go in, but I'm not complaining.
Hossa!
Hossa willed that in. He got his warmup game done and he's back.
The 2 min. 5 on 3 for the Wings is awesome. Zetterberg had a really good chance but couldn't get it in.
At least they're not in their own zone.
As I typed that, Kronwall scored
There was no way Columbus was going to survive that.
Samuelsson gets a goal to make it 3 - 0. Awesome.
Slightly against the run of play.
That's what happens when Sammy actually hits the net.
Columbus ratcheted up the offense a bit in the second but the Wings are limiting their quality chances.
Franzen makes it 4 - 0. Domination.
Great to see Ozzie with the shutout. Solid game overall.
Arena started clearing out with the fourth goal.
Checking in from Charleston, West Virginia, this morning.
I've got a ton of photos from yesterday's game but having been on the road or asleep for most of the time since then I haven't been able to go through them to see what will go on the site.
I know I've said it before, but Columbus really has a fantastic arena. Their in-arena presentation is even so much better than Detroit. Hell, their giveaways are better, yesterday they were handing out St. Patrick's Day Blue Jackets hats, high quality stuff that you wouldn't know was a giveaway unless you saw the sponsor name on the back. Of course, I have no need for it, but it's cool for all the Jackets fans there.
I finally got my photos from this game posted...
http://www.detroitho...date=2009-03-15
Just in time to work on getting more from Atlanta, I hope.
Chris Osgood
Credit: Clark Rasmussen
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