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Holmstrom's hat trick helps Red Wings end Coyotes' streak

Jan 12, 2007 - 7:00 AM GLENDALE, Arizona (Ticker) -- Tomas Holmstrom helped the Detroit Red Wings begin a winning streak while ending one for the Phoenix Coyotes.

Holmstrom recorded a hat trick and added an assist and Pavel Datsyuk notched five points as the Red Wings halted the Coyotes' seven-game run with a 5-1 victory.

"I think the players themselves are more disappointed tonight then they have been in a long time," Phoenix coach Wayne Gretzky said. "They got accustomed to winning and playing hard."

Both Holmstrom and Datsyuk tallied twice in the third period for Detroit, which completed its five-game road trip with consecutive wins after dropping the first three contests.

"We have a veteran team and should be real patient," Red Wings coach Mike Babcock said. "We have an intelligent team in here, and if we play hard, we have a chance to be successful."

Holmstrom scored the first of Detroit's three power-play goals when he slapped a rebound past goaltender Mikael Tellqvist with 49 seconds remaining in the first period for a 1-0 lead.

The goal was disputed by Phoenix because Henrik Zetterberg's initial shot knocked off Tellqvist's mask. However, the officials determined the puck crossed the goal line before Tellqvist lost his headgear.

Holmstrom scored again at 6:57 of the third, snapping a 1-1 tie by putting another rebound by Tellqvist. After Datsyuk tallied on the power play midway through the session, Holmstrom completed his second career hat trick with 5:08 remaining.

"Holmstrom has been great," Red Wings captain Nicklas Lidstrom said. "If we get the puck in there, he's going to get a stick on it and try to get rebounds. It's great to see him get rewarded with the hat trick."

Datsyuk capped the scoring during a two-man advantage with 2:06 left.

"That's a tough one to swallow when you are down 4-1 and they get a 5-on-3 (power play) and they send their top unit out," Coyotes captain Shane Doan said. "As a player, you don't like that and you don't appreciate it."

Zetterberg had three assists and Dominik Hasek stopped 15 shots for Detroit, which has outscored Phoenix, 14-3, in two meetings this season.

"We've been playing really well and I thought we played strong tonight," Lidstrom said. "We're just sticking to our game plan and staying patient and trying to keep our composure."

"We did a great job, we didn't give them many chances to score," Hasek added.

Yanic Perreault scored his team-leading 14th goal and Tellqvist made 40 saves for the Coyotes, who lost in regulation for the first time since December 21.

"Tonight was our night to be physically and mentally fatigued, and consequently, we ended up taking a lot of hooking and holding penalties," Gretzky said.