The Detroit Red Wings blanked the Vancouver Canucks 2-0 at Joe Louis Arena on Thursday to extend their perfect start to the new season with a third consecutive win.
Red Wings goaltender Jimmy Howard made 25 saves and was in spectacular form in the first period stopping 12 shots, including two from point-blank by Daniel Sedin.
NHL Central Division leaders Detroit, who also shut out Colorado 3-0 last Saturday with backup Ty Conklin in net, moved up a gear in the second period, outshooting Vancouver 24-8, and they were rewarded with two goals.
Photo: Reuters
“We really took over the game in the second period,” Howard said. “We started to get through the neutral zone and started working on their defense. We got pucks on net. It was a simple, yet effective game plan.”
Justin Abdelkader opened the scoring by converting a cross-ice pass from Todd Bertuzzi and Valtteri Filppula extended the lead to 2-0 less than three minutes later, completing a give-and-go from Johan Franzen with a weak shot that eluded Vancouver goalie Cory Schneider.
Vancouver had chances to get on the board — Cody Hodgson’s shot at the end of the second period beating Howard, but failing to cross the line before time expired and Alex Burrows hit the post with the goal wide open.
“Especially early, he [Howard] made some big saves for them,” Vancouver’s Henrik Sedin said. “If they get the first goal, they can sit back. Both teams are good at sitting back and creating chances off turnovers. Right now, we’re making mistakes. Last year, we waited for the other team to make mistakes.”
CAPITALS 3, PENGUINS 2
In Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, the Capitals’ Dennis Wideman scored in overtime to give Washington a win over the Pittsburgh Penguins.
On the powerplay 2 minutes, 38 seconds into the extra period, Wideman rifled a shot from just inside the right circle past goalie Brent Johnson to keep Washington unbeaten in three games this season.
Alexander Ovechkin scored his first goal of the season for the Capitals, who have won eight straight regular-season games in Pittsburgh. Mike Knuble also scored.
James Neal scored twice for the Penguins, tying it on a power play with 3:45 left in the third.
BLACKHAWKS 4, JETS 3
In Chicago, Patrick Kane had a goal and two assists to help Chicago overcome an early two-goal deficit in a victory over Winnipeg.
Linemate Marian Hossa added a goal and an assist, while Andrew Brunette and Dave Bolland also scored for the Blackhawks.
Jim Slater scored twice early in the first period for the Jets and Kyle Wellwood added a goal late in the second for the team, who were playing their first road game since the franchise relocated from Atlanta in the offseason.
DEVILS 2, KINGS 1, SO
In Newark, New Jersey, Ilya Kovalchuk and Zach Parise scored shootout goals to give New Jersey victory over Los Angeles.
Devils goalie Johan Hedberg, who replaced an injured Martin Brodeur at the start of the second period, made easy stops on the two Kings shootout attempts.
Patrick Elias scored in regulation for New Jersey and Gagne got his first goal as a King to open the game.
AVALANCHE 7, SENATORS 1
In Ottawa, Joakim Lindstrom scored twice to help Colorado cruise past Ottawa.
Goalie Jean-Sebastien Giguere made 15 saves in his first start for the Avalanche.
Rookie Gabriel Landeskog, Milan Hejduk and Matt Duchene each had a goal and an assist, while Daniel Winnik and David Jones also scored for Colorado.
Milan Michalek had a power-play goal for Ottawa.
ISLANDERS 5, LIGHTNING 1
In Uniondale, New York, John Tavares had two goals and two assists in the first period as New York went on to rout Tampa Bay.
Matt Moulson and P.A. Parenteau also had first-period goals for the Islanders, while Michael Grabner added a fifth in the second period.
Steven Stamkos netted for the Lightning.
WILD 2, OILERS 1, SO
In St Paul, Minnesota, Devin Setoguchi scored in the fourth round of the shootout to lift Minnesota above Edmonton.
Oilers goalie Nikolai Khabibulin stood firm during a third period in which the Wild outshot the Oilers 15-1, giving his team a point, but he conceded twice in the shootout — the first time to Matt Cullen, who had the only goal for Minnesota in regulation.
Ryan Smyth had the goal for the Oilers, who have lost 17 straight games in Minnesota.
COYOTES 5, PREDATORS 2
In Nashville, Tennessee, David Schlemko, Ray Whitney and Lauri Korpikoski each scored in the first period as Phoenix ruined Nashville’s party for their home opener.
Shane Doan had an empty-netter and an assist, while Mikkel Boedker also had a goal as the Coyotes capped their three-game trip to open the season with their first victory.
Ryan Suter and Colin Wilson scored for Nashville.
FLAMES 4, CANADIENS 1
In Montreal, Miikka Kiprusoff made 35 saves in his Calgary-record 263rd victory, helping the Flames defeat Montreal.
Kiprusoff moved past Mike Vernon for the franchise record.
Rene Bourque scored twice, while Niklas Hagman and David Moss also netted for the Flames.
Andrei Kostitsyn scored for the Canadiens.
Stars 3, Blues 2
In Dallas, Kari Lehtonen stopped 36 shots as Dallas hung on to beat St Louis. Lehtonen has allowed only four goals in his first three starts this season, all victories.
Loui Erikson and Brenden Morrow scored power-play goals for the Stars and Adam Burish connected at even strength.
Matt D’Agostini and Chris Stewart scored to rally St Louis from a three-goal deficit.
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