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Hasek blanks Canadiens for 74th career shutout

Jan 16, 2007 - 3:09 AM DETROIT (Ticker) -- Dominik Hasek drove home the point that not all of the National Hockey League's best players will be at the upcoming All-Star Game.

Hasek made 23 saves in recording his sixth shutout of the season as the Detroit Red Wings posted its fourth consecutive win, 2-0 victory over the Montreal Canadiens.

It also was the 74th career shutout - 10th all-time in NHL history - for the 41-year-old Hasek, who turned aside seven shots in each of the first two periods and nine in the third.

Left off the Western Conference's All-Star team in favor of Roberto Luongo of Vancouver, Miikka Kiprusoff of Calgary and Marty Turco of Dallas, Hasek improved on his league-leading goals-against average, lowering it to 1.98.

Hasek also stands third in the league in wins with 24 and second in shutouts behind the seven of New Jersey's Martin Brodeur.

Jiri Hudler opened the scoring 9:18 into the first period for Detroit, which remained four points behind Nashville for first place in the Central Division with 63 points. The Predators also won Monday with a 5-3 victory over Calgary.

The young center picked up the puck in his own end and skated up the right boards before unleashing a slap shot that beat goaltender David Aebischer over the left shoulder. It was Hudler's seventh goal of the season.

Detroit added to lead late in the third, when Pavel Datsyuk collected his 13th tally on a wrist shot from the left boards that slipped under Aebischer's right armpit with 5:19 remaining.

Aebischer finished with 37 saves for Montreal, which was shut out for the second time in its last five games.