A flurry of shots during a last-minute power play wasn’t enough for the Detroit Red Wings Tuesday night, failing to score a tying goal and falling to the Carolina Hurricanes, 3-2.
Detroit had allowed the game’s first three goals before scoring the next two to pull within one.
Matt Cullen scored the game’s opening goal at 5:45 of the first. After a Detroit turnover in the neutral zone, Cullen carried the puck into the Red Wings’ zone before defenseman Brett Lebda dropped to the ice to block a possible shot. Cullen outwaited Lebda and stepped around him before wristing a shot past Detroit goalie Manny Legace.
Just 3:36 later, the Hurricanes went up by two with a power play goal. A backhand shot from the right circle by Bret Hedican deflected at the top of the crease to former Red Wing Ray Whitney at the far side of the goal. Whitney banged it in on his second attempt.
With 5:52 left in the period, Erik Cole scored Carolina’s third goal. Cole broke in on goal from the right circle and Legace came out to make the stop. Cole got the rebound and moved to go behind the net as Legace attempted to poke check him. Legace never recovered from the poke check and Cole retained the puck for an open wraparound.
The Red Wings would shut the Hurricanes down for the remainder of the game but the damage was already done.
Steve Yzerman showed that he’s not out of tricks yet, beginning Detroit’s comeback attempt just 1:59 after Cole’s goal.
Yzerman carried the puck on his own through the neutral zone and into Carolina’s end, cutting through the high slot and into the right circle past a pair of defenders. He moved back into the slot to get around Hurricanes’ goalie Martin Gerber and caught him sideways, lifting the puck over his outstretched pad.
Detroit pulled within one at 3:26 of the second period when Henrik Zetterberg scored a fluke power play goal. Zetterberg attempted a pass from the side of the net that deflected off former Red Wing Aaron Ward at the edge of the crease and past Gerber.
Detroit outshot Carolina 19-6 in the third period but the Red Wings could not even the score.
Legace finished the game with 22 saves on 25 shots as Gerber stopped 36 of 36 attempts in net for Carolina.
The Red Wings went one-for-six on the power play and allowed one Carolina power play goal on four chances.
Detroit will be back in action on Thursday when the Philadelphia Flyers visit Joe Louis Arena.
