ST. PAUL, Minnesota -- The Detroit Red Wings survived a late two-goal comeback by Minnesota and the longest shootout in team history Thursday night, earning a 4-3 win over the Wild.
Drew Miller won the game for Detroit in the eighth round of the shootout, snapping a shot over Niklas Backstrom's shoulder.
Miller had scored what seemed to be an insurance goal at 9:03 of the third period, deflecting a Derek Meech shot from the blue line past Backstrom to give the Red Wings a 3-1 lead.
Minnesota battled back with a pair of goals one minute apart.
With 6:12 remaining in regulation, Detroit netminder Jimmy Howard got his toe on a Kyle Brodziak chance from in front. The puck then deflected off of Martin Havlat's skate and trickled into the net.
The game was tied when Andrew Brunette gloved the puck out of mid-air, dropped it to his stick, and swatted it past Howard from the slot with 5:12 left.
All three of Minnesota's goals came on fortunate bounces, as they got on the board with 7:26 left in the second when a Shane Hnidy shot went high, deflected off the glass behind the goal, then floated back out in front before hitting the chest of Robert Earl and dropping into the net.
The Red Wings had opened the scoring at 7:52 of the first when Todd Bertuzzi beat Wild goaltender Josh Harding.
Harding left the game with a lower body injury after the first period and Backstrom allowed his first goal against at 2:28 of the third when Patrick Eaves banged in a rebound chance after Darren Helm drove the net.
Howard finished the night with 27 saves on 30 Minnesota shots, stopping six of eight shootout attempts. Harding stopped ten of the 11 first-period shots he faced while Backstrom made 16 stops on 18 shots and went five-for-eight in the shootout.
Neither team scored a power play goal. Detroit had three chances with the extra attacker and Minnesota had one.
Early start Tuesday but today's late start means I had time to get back from a soccer game before kicking this thread off.
Speaking of starts, Jimmy Howard is back in net for the Wings. Detroit can't score more than two goals against a mediocre goalie in Jose Theodore on Tuesday and it puts Chris Osgood back on the bench.
The Wings are only a point out of the playoffs, still, so they could get into eigth with a win tonight.
Jesus, nothing on a shorthanded two-on-none? Helm got nothing on his shot. Maybe that'll help Harding's ratings for me in the DFHL.
Bert on the breakaway! Give those chances to a real shooter.
The Wings have to win to make this birthday worthwhile for Helm and myself!
Happy Birthday, young'n.
Bert getting a bit cocky there. Damn.
Happy Birthday, young'n.
Not so much anymore, but thanks! Hahaa.
Hopefully the Wings will get another goal soon! Was Bertuzzi's goal as spectacular as the shootout goal? I missed the first period ):
Happy Birthday, young'n.
Not so much anymore, but thanks! Hahaa.
Nope, still young'n. 
Hopefully the Wings will get another goal soon! Was Bertuzzi's goal as spectacular as the shootout goal? I missed the first period ):
Nice goal, breakaway, not fancy. The one he just missed on was way fancier.
You are f*cking kidding me.
Of course it was a miss. And now the Wild with a goal? What is this?
The Hand of Gog. When was the last time the Wings got a break like that?
Good things happen when you drive to the net.
Eaves and Helm just click. Loving that line.
The Hand of Gog.
Oh my gosh, I understand the reference this time!
And now 2-1! Awesome!
Wings can't give up Miller, he's finding his game here.
Kicking motion? Off Havlat's skate. Not even looking at it?
Edit: They're looking.
Kicking motion? Off Havlat's skate. Not even looking at it?
Edit: They're looking.
That's what I was going to say! I will be kinda ticked if they keep it.
And they keep it.
This is getting scary!
Hand of Gog. Told ya.
Minnesota doesn’t have a single goal off of a good play all night, but they all count the same. Three goofy-ass plays leading to goals. When was the last time that happened to Detroit?
To the gimmick we go...
That's new for Pavs, rarely goes five-hole.
Zata can win it...
Ouch, Nolan made Jimmy look bad.
Bert for the win...
Well f*ck.
I like the idea from Leino.
We're at least tied for the longest Wings shootout ever.
First time Wings have ever reached the 7th round.
Now they need to make the 8th.
My heart just sank ): Oh man.
But Dr. Fil made it better!
Miller wins it!
I regret voting for Miller on the poll on the home page now, hahaha.
holy crap, my blood pressure doesn't appreciate the recent string of shootouts. now that its coming back down, GO WINGS!
and for tonight, go sabres!
Wings can't give up Miller, he's finding his game here.
Just figured that was worth repeating.
Drew Miller
Credit: Clark Rasmussen
Comment on this Article
You must be logged in to add your comment.