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The Red Wings got a power-play tally from defenseman Brian Rafalski and a second-period score from Valtteri Filppula that proved to be the eventual game-winner. Chris Pronger scored in the third period on an Anaheim power-play to provide the Ducks' only scoring on the night.
The game started off on a physical note that was spurred by former Red Wing Todd Bertuzzi bulldozing Hasek at the top of the goal crease. Johan Franzen wasted little time in laying a series of crosschecks to Bertuzzi's back as the hulking forward attempted to get up off the ice.
Tempers flared later in the period as Pronger and Dan Cleary squared off. Despite a drastic size mismatch, the brief bout was spirited and only ended when a previously blackened eye was opened by a piece of Pronger's equipment. Cleary had a cut near the eye, which had also swelled up considerably.
The Red Wings grabbed the lead on a 5-on-3 advantage with Bertuzzi and Todd Marchant in the box. After his initial shot went wide, Rafalski got another chance to rip home a one-timer from the top of the left circle and made good on it at 11:52. The goal, the 9th of the season for Rafalski, is a new career high.
Detroit doubled the lead in the second period when the Wings got a fortunate break (no pun intended), when defenseman Francois Beauchemin's stick broke as he attempted to make a pass out of his defensive zone. The play resulted in a partial 2-on-1 (Scott Neidermayer was back on the play, along with Beuchemin -- who was limited without his stick) with Filppula and Tomas Kopecky. Kopecky made a nice saucer pass to elude the stick of Neidermayer and Filppula ripped the puck past a sprawling Jean-Sebastien Giguere.
Pronger's power-play tally with 11:55 to go in regulation was as close as Anaheim would get.
Hasek was outstanding in the game and made several fantastic stops to secure the victory for the Red Wings. If was Hasek's first win in Anaheim in his last four attempts (0-3-0, 4.10 GAA).
Detroit outshot Anaheim 33-25.
The Red Wings were without leading-scorer Henrik Zetterberg, who missed the last two games of the road trip but hopes to be back immediately after the All-Star break next week.
LGW.com's 3 Stars
1. Dominik Hasek (DET) - 24 Saves, .960 SV% Red Wings Lines
Filppula - Datsyuk - Holmstrom |
NHL.com Stats Pack
· Game Summary |
