The Red Wings took control of a tie game in the third period by scoring 3 goals (one an empty-netter) to run away from the Phoenix Coyotes with a 4-1 win. Pavel Datsyuk and Jimmy Howard led the way for the Wings, who will try to close out the series at The Joe on Sunday.
Drew Miller opened the scoring in the first period with a wraparound shot that snuck between Ilya Bryzgalov’s skates. Ed Jovanovski tied the game at 9:45 of the second period on a blatant interference non-call rebound in front of Jimmy Howard. Both teams traded close calls until Tomas Holmstrom and Datsyuk scored goals just over a minute apart in the third period, giving the Wings a 3-1 lead they would not give back. Henrik Zetterberg (who else?) scored an empty-netter in the final minute.
JIMMY HOWARD FOR PRESIDENT OF SPACE
James Tiberius Howard was once again the difference for the Wings, saving 30 of 31 Coyote shots. The .968 save percentage is impressive enough, but seeing some of the saves Howard made put his performance over the top. I think my friend put it best when we were at the bar last night: “I’m a huge, huge Osgood fan, but he’s never going to start another playoff game in Detroit.” If Howard keeps this up, neither will anyone else for a long time.
RED WINGS REACTIONS
After being down 2-1 in their series with the Phoenix Coyotes, Howard has now posted back-to-back brilliant starts as Detroit put themselves a win away from advancing with a 4-1 victory Friday night.
It is not considered ideal for a team to only play solid hockey for 10 minutes of a 60-minute hockey game. That being said, if you’re going to do that, it helps for two other things to happen: You score three goals in that span. You have a goaltender who is playing for a full 60 minutes.
Snipe Snipe, Dangle Dangle:
I think [Franzen is] starting to emerge. He’s looked better over the last couple of games and picked up an assist on Datsyuk’s goal. That whole top line was going tonight.
Fight Night at the Joe:
The Wings played like shit in the second. There is nothing you can say about that. And that was their own fault. But the reason for the momentum shift was a bogus penalty and a goal that should have been disallowed.
AROUND THE NHL
The Canadiens beat the Capitals 2-1 to force a Game 6. Washington leads the series 3-2.
Philadelphia beat New Jersey 3-0 on Thursday to win their series 4-1.
The Buffalo Sabres beat the Boston Bruins 4-1 to get back into the series. Boston leads 3-2 going into Game 6.
Pittsburgh and Ottawa face off in Game 6 tonight. Ottawa won a triple-OT thriller in Pittsburgh on Thursday. Pittsburgh leads the series 3-2.
San Jose may have finally realized that they’re the top seed in the West, beating Colorado 5-0 on Thursday. The Sharks lead the series 3-2 going into Game 6 tonight.
Chicago and Nashville are tied at 2 games apiece going into Game 5 tonight.
Vancouver put a 7-2 stomping on Los Angeles last night to take a 3-2 series lead.
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