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Hudler, Red Wings extend Lightning's skid

Nov 30, 2007 - 5:01 AM DETROIT (Ticker) -- An effortless first period paved the way for another victory over the Tampa Bay Lightning for Chris Osgood.

Osgood finished with 21 saves after a quiet opening session and Jiri Hudler had a goal and an assist as the Detroit Red Wings extended the Lightning's losing streak to six games Thursday with a 4-2 triumph.

Pavel Datsyuk, Tomas Kopecky and Daniel Cleary also scored for the Red Wings, who improved to 21-5-2 in the all-time series.

Osgood also improved his own impressive mark against Tampa Bay, raising his record to 16-0-0 vs. the Southeast Division club by making 20 of his saves over the final 40 minutes.

"I used to play them lots when I was in Long Island (with the New York Islanders)," Osgood said. "I had a pretty good record against them. ... Certain teams in the league you just have a good record against. I didn't realize that until you told me. I knew I had a pretty good record, but I didn't know I hadn't lost yet."

The veteran netminder faced just one shot in the first period, a season low for the Lightning.

"I don't mind that whatsoever," Osgood said. "I took it to be a challenge. I don't mind at all. It means there's a pretty good chance they're not going to have any goals, so that's what I care most about."

"They had the puck, we didn't, for the first 20 minutes," Tampa Bay's Brad Richards said.

Osgood, who improved to 12-1-1 overall this season, is creating a bit of a goaltending controversy in the Motor City, forcing coach Mike Babcock to decide between he and six-time Vezina Trophy winner Dominik Hasek on a nightly basis.

"I haven't decided what I'm going to do (next game)," Babcock said. "Dom's going to play one (of the next two). Ozzie's been real good, but Dom's real good, too. I think it's important to ride the hot hand."

Osgood also is supplying the younger Red Wings with good advice.

"He's been unbelievable," Kopecky said of Osgood. "He comes on the ice every practice and we shoot on him, and even during practice, he gives us tips what the goalies usually do, which just helps the young guys a lot. Right now, he's 35 (years old), but he's playing like he's 20."

Detroit, which recorded 17 shots in the opening session, began the scoring at 3:24. From the right point, defenseman Chris Chelios slapped a pass to Hudler, who redirected it past goaltender Marc Denis from low in the left faceoff circle for his sixth goal of the season and a 1-0 lead.

Datsyuk cashed in on a power play just over four minutes into the second to double the Red Wings' advantage. After reigning Norris Trophy winner Nicklas Lidstrom's shot hit Tomas Holmstrom in front, Datsyuk tapped in the loose puck from the right side of the crease at 4:04 for his eighth tally.

"He's always around the net," Cleary said. "Pucks follow good players. He made no mistake about it. ... It was a good deflection by Homer and a good shot by Nick."

The tally also extended Datsyuk's goal-scoring streak to three games.

Returning to the lineup after a three-game absence due to a shoulder injury, Kopecky extended the lead to 3-0 just 3 1/2 minutes later.

On a partial breakaway down the right wing after receiving a feed from blue-liner Andreas Lilja, the 25-year-old Slovakian faked a shot in the faceoff circle and lifted a backhander past Denis at 7:39 for his first tally of the season and second career.

"It was a long wait to get that first goal of the season," Kopecky said. "It was a great night. We were a couple guys short and we need the young guys to step up."

"He's got really good skill," Cleary said of Kopecky. "He's got a good shot. That's good confidence for him. It was a great move. He likes to do that in practice. He was happy, and I think we're all happy for him."

The Red Wings were without Kris Draper, who is sidelined with a knee injury, and Kirk Maltby, whose 188 consecutive games streak came to an end due to a shoulder ailment.

"They are a great part of our success," Kopecky said. "Drapes and Malts on the penalty kill, and overall, they are the heart of the team."

Maltby has missed just four games since the start of the 2001-02 season.

"Malts never misses (games)," Babcock said. "He doesn't miss practice, he doesn't miss anything. So for him not to practice and not to play is a big deal. We'll see how he is reacting tomorrow."

The Lightning, who recorded 12 shots on goal in the middle session, got on the board with 7:57 remaining in the period. From the left corner, Martin St. Louis dished to Richards, who swept a shot from the left circle that beat Osgood to the glove side, cutting Tampa Bay's deficit to 3-1.

Cleary restored Detroit's three-goal bulge early in the third, sliding the rebound of defenseman Brett Lebda's shot into a vacant net from alone in the right circle at 2:05.

Mathieu Darche added a late goal for Tampa Bay, which fell to 2-10-1 on the road.

"We have to get ourselves better one game at a time," Lightning coach John Tortorella said. "Not looking ahead, weeks or months. Just one game at a time."

"Tough go right now," St. Louis added. "What can you say? We can't feel sorry for ourselves."

Making just his third start of the season, Denis made 35 saves for the Lightning.

"We wanted to come out strong, get a lot of shots on Denis," Cleary said. "He hasn't played in a long time."

Tampa Bay's Vincent Lecavalier - who leads the league in scoring, was held without a point, marking the first time this season the reigning Maurice Richard Trophy winner has been kept off the scoresheet in consecutive games.

Henrik Zetterberg also failed to record a point for Detroit, ending his streak of home games with a point at 27.