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Zetterberg, Datsyuk help Red Wings edge Capitals in shootout

Dec 18, 2007 - 4:08 AM By Chuck Klonke PA Sportsticker Contributing Writer

DETROIT (Ticker) -- The Detroit Red Wings' top line was the difference once again Monday night.

Henrik Zetterberg scored a goal and set up another and Pavel Datsyuk had three assists in regulation and each added a tally in the shootout as the Red Wings edged the Washington Capitals, 4-3.

Having players like Zetterberg and Datsyuk makes life a lot easier for Detroit coach Mike Babcock.

"I just put them out there and hope they've got their A game," Babcock said.

Linemate Tomas Holmstrom returned to the lineup after missing two games and scored twice for Detroit, which has won nine of its last 10 contests and has not lost in regulation since November 22.

Datsyuk was pleased to have Holmstrom back.

"He did what he always does for us," Datsyuk said. "He stood in front of the net and scored goals."

Datsyuk got the Red Wings off to a good start in the shootout, beating Capitals goaltender Olie Kolzig with a backhander in the opening round.

Datsyuk had been stopped twice on breakaways last week - once in a shootout loss to Edmonton and on a penalty shot in the third period of Saturday's game with Florida.

"I changed what I usually do on the shootout," Datsyuk said. "I've been getting stopped. I went to the backhand to make it easier."

After Viktor Kozlov hit the post with the ensuing attempt, Zetterberg deked, faked a forehanded wrist shot and launched a backhander past Kolzig.

Alexander Semin extended the bonus format by besting Detroit netminder Dominik Hasek with a wrist shot that knocked the water bottle off the top of the net, but then Jiri Hudler ended the contest with a backhanded shot to the top shelf.

"It was a good two points," Holmstrom said. "It was tight. It's always nice to score. I felt a little rusty but I tried to make it simple out there. It was nice to be back, exciting to get back."

Semin sent the game into overtime when he beat Hasek with a slap shot on a power play with 94 seconds remaining in the third period. Holmstrom had given Detroit the lead with 4:43 left when he redirected Datsyuk's pass past Kolzig.

Washington coach Bruce Boudreau was glad to see Semin score. It was just his third goal of the campaign after scoring 38 last season.

"For him it was big," Boudreau said. "He was looking really dejected for the first two periods of the game. For him to get that goal, I think it just raised his confidence. In the shootout, he scored fairly easily, I thought. Hope it's a jump-start to his season."

Boudreau felt the Capitals would have come away with a victory against most teams.

"I really believe we deserved two (points), but that's why they're No. 1, because every chance they get, they take advantage of it," Boudreau said. "They get the puck over the blue line and they're a dangerous team. That might have been the only chance they had to score in the third period and they put it in. That's what makes them great."

Zetterberg scored the only goal of the second period to tie the game at 2-2. He took a cross-ice pass from Datsyuk and one-timed a shot past Kolzig at 10:26. The power-play goal was his 24th tally of the season, tying him with Washington's Alex Ovechkin for second place in the league behind Tampa Bay's Vincent Lecavalier, who has 26.

Washington came out of the first period with a 2-1 lead. Holmstrom opened the scoring on a deflection of Nicklas Lidstrom's shot during a man advantage at 3:57.

Ovechkin tied the game with his 24th goal at 9:58, two seconds after Hudler was sent to the penalty box for holding. Ovechkin's shot from between the circles deflected off Hasek's pads.

Washington broke the tie at 19:34 when defenseman Jeff Schultz scored his fourth goal in five games. Schultz's shot from the point hit Holmstrom's stick and went over Hasek.