Hasek’s 80th shutout leads Wings past Avs
Henrik Zetterberg and the Red Wings blanked the Avalanche.
(Friday, February 1st)
Final Score: Detroit 2, Colorado 0
Detroit, MIÂ - Henrik Zetterberg scored with 2:20 left in regulation to break a scoreless tie and Dominik Hasek made 11 of his 15 saves in the third period to record his fourth shutout of the season and 80th of his career, as the Detroit Red Wings blanked the Colorado Avalanche, 2-0, at Joe Louis Arena.
Kris Draper added an empty-net goal and Pavel Datsyuk registered two helpers to give him assists in five consecutive games, as the Red Wings recorded their sixth straight win.
“There was not much action in the first and second periods — only four shots, but it was still 0-0,” said Hasek. “You never know what can happen. They score on a rebound and it can change the momentum and the game. I know if I make one mistake it can cost us the game, so I have to stay focused.”
Peter Budaj, who was making his first start since January 2, allowed one goal on 35 shots for the Avalanche, who have dropped three of four.
“That was a very tough ending,” said Colorado coach Joel Quenneville. “To come that close to getting something and have it get away on a lucky bounce, we spoiled a very special night by our goaltender. I thought our third period was our best period. We weren’t too crazy about how we played in the early part of the game.”
Zetterberg lit the lamp when his wraparound attempt deflected off the stick of Colorado’s Jordan Leopold and behind Budaj. Draper’s tally in the final minute sealed the win.
Detroit thoroughly dominated the first period, but Budaj was stellar between the pipes, turning aside all 14 shots fired his way to keep the Red Wings off the board. T.J. Hensick registered the first shot for Colorado with 8:38 to play and the club closed out the frame with a total of three.
Missed opportunities characterized the opening frame for the Red Wings, who had a shot ring off the post and failed to score on a 5-on-3 power play that lasted 1:32.
The Avs’ ineptitude continued in the second, as the club generated only one shot in the frame. However, the club appeared to take a 1-0 lead in the dying seconds, but, due to a questionable call by the official, Milan Hejduk’s tally was waved off after Detroit’s Brett Lebda shoved Scott Hannan into Hasek.
Colorado’s one shot was a season-low for a period.
Budaj made nine saves in the stanza.
Game Notes
Detroit has won three straight, four of five and 11 of the last 13 meetings…Colorado goaltender Jose Theodore sat out the game with back spasms. Tyler Weiman, recently called up from Lake Erie of the American Hockey League, served as the backup…The loss snapped a season-high three-game road winning streak for the Avs…Both teams play again on Saturday. Colorado travels to St. Louis, while the Red Wings visit Boston.
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