DETROIT, Michigan -- The Detroit Red Wings scored twice in the first three minutes Monday night, jumping out to an early lead that the Phoenix Coyotes never recovered from en route to a 4-2 win.
With the victory, Detroit leads their Western Conference Quarterfinal matchup, 3-0, and will go for the sweep in Glendale on Wednesday.
Ruslan Salei and Drew Miller scored just 44 seconds apart to get Detroit on the board.
At 1:57, Darren Helm fought off a check by Ed Jovanovski to get the puck along the back boards and send it out to Salei at the top of the right faceoff circle for a blast past Phoenix goalie Ilya Bryzgalov. At 2:41, a Niklas Kronwall shot deflected off of Drew Miller to make it 2-0.
Valtteri Filppula made it 3-0 just 2:50 into the second period, carrying the puck through the slot and into the left faceoff circle before flinging it past Bryzgalov.
David Schlemko got the Coyotes on the board with 8:17 left in the middle period. With Phoenix on a power play, Schlemko got the puck in the left circle and drove to the net, roofing a shot over Jimmy Howard's shoulder.
Johan Franzen put Detroit back up by three 45 seconds into the third period, breaking in alone on Bryzgalov and sniping a shot over his shoulder.
Ray Whitney's power play shot with seven minutes remaining deflected past Howard to put the Coyotes back within a pair but Phoenix would be unable to pull closer.
The Red Wings were scoreless on four power play attempts while the Coyotes' two goals came on three tries with the extra attacker. The last five Phoenix goals have all been on the power play.
Howard finished the night with 28 saves on 30 shots. Bryzgalov made 30 stops on 34 chances.
Notes: Detroit was without forward Henrik Zetterberg for the fifth consecutive game. He is not expected to play in Game Four... Mike Modano and Jakub Kindl were healthy scratches for the Red Wings.
Report from Glendale, Franzen is in.
I know this is a little late but why are they starting this game at 10:30? I've only seen 10:30 starts in the pacific time zone. Phoenix is in mountain.
Checking in from Yokota Japan. I have missed the previous games and I have to rely on the 97.1 feed in conjunction with the NHL.com ice tracker. Sounds like the Yotes are going to be very physical.
Helm on Jovo... Interesting... SCORE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 1-0!
Coyotes looking to make hits all over the place to start, Helm fights one off and gets it to Salei to open the game's scoring.
And Miller adds another! Jesus...
Kronner!!!!!!!!!!!!
Well that's a good way to stat the game. Ive got the Vs feed again here in Afghanistan.
The AFN feed here has the video 30 seconds ahead of the audio. Add that to the Vs announcers and you have 'suck.'
Look like Phx is really trying to create some odd man rushes the way they are leting us have the boards down low.
Jimmy with a couple big stops. Coyotes running Lidstrom now. Ugh.
If Nick gets hurt, we'll have a problem.
Wings getting sloppy with the lead again. Jimmy standing strong. Coyotes getting angry, Detroit needs to take advantage.
Well, if the Wings can stay out of the penalty bow and let Phx continue to instigat fights and take cheap shots we should be allright.
Is MD awake? Her boy puts Detroit up buy three.
There ya go Abby!
Damn. Real nice PK for 1:53, then a complete breakdown.
No. The Vs announcers don't sound like they're being homers for Phx... 
We're getting run all over the place in our own zone.
No. The Vs announcers don't sound like they're being homers for Phx...
Lucky enough to get Ken and Mick.
Wings are coasting still. Need to survive the period.
Looks like Helm got away with one there...
Tipet: "No call?.... No call?..."
Wings are mostly holding on, Babs had better wake them up in the room.
And the Kraken comes alive!!!!
Motherf*cking sniped! Holy sh*t, that was a shot.
Have we taken any shots on the PP tonight? Shoot that damn thing!
Have we taken any shots on the PP tonight? Shoot that damn thing!
Power play has been sh*t tonight.
Game has slowed way down. Not sure how in it the Coyotes really are but they've got a power play now.
PK is looking like crap tonight...
Son of a bitch.
That's right yotes, end it cheap...
Wings hold on for the win and Datsyuk gets hit at the buzzer. The expected ending.
Ruslan Salei
Credit: Clark Rasmussen
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