Red Wings 0 - 3 Hurricanes
Final
  for this game

Hurricanes keep playoff hopes alive, down Red Wings

Apr 7, 2011 - 3:53 AM Raleigh, NC (Sports Network) - Hurricanes captain Eric Staal had three assists in a 3-0 win over Detroit that kept Carolina's playoff hopes alive.

Erik Cole, Derek Joslin and Jeff Skinner all scored for the Hurricanes, who moved within two points of the idle New York Rangers for the eighth and final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference with two games remaining.

Cam Ward made 42 saves to record his fourth shutout of the season.

"We needed to get the win tonight and we did," Staal said. "Now we have to beat Atlanta."

Jimmy Howard allowed all three goals on 32 shots for the Red Wings, who captured the Central Division with a 4-2 win over the visiting Minnesota Wild on Sunday to assure at least a No. 3 seed in the playoffs.

Red Wings forward Henrik Zetterberg left during the first period with a lower- body injury. The veteran Swede limped off the ice just past the mid-point of the first after getting hit by Hurricanes defenseman Bryan Allen and did not return.

"I don't know anything," Red Wings head coach Mike Babcock said of Zetterberg's injury. "We'll have our guys check him out when we get home. He may not play this weekend."

After a scoreless first period, the Wings held an 18-15 shot advantage.

However, Carolina got on the board first just over the four-minute mark of the second period. It was Joslin's blast from the point on the power play, his second goal of the season.

Skinner's 30th goal of the season, coming on a wrap-around with 1:13 left in the second period, extended the Hurricanes' lead to 2-0.

Carolina made it a 3-0 game at the 5:44 mark of the third on Cole's one-timer from the right circle that sailed past Howard.

From there, Ward was outstanding between the pipes, stopping 13 shots in the third.

Game Notes

Ward recorded his first win against Detroit. He was 0-3-0 against the Wings coming into the game...The Red Wings had won three straight since Carolina last posted a victory in this series on January 10, 2006 in Raleigh...The Hurricanes improved to 22-13-5 as the host this year...The Hurricanes round out their season with games at Atlanta (Friday) and home against Tampa Bay on Saturday...Detroit will close its regular season with a home-and-home series against Chicago. The Red Wings will host the Blackhawks on Friday before the clubs complete their regular seasons Sunday in Chicago.






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