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Zetterberg, Datsyuk help Red Wings thwart Predators

Feb 11, 2009 - 6:24 AM NASHVILLE, Tennessee (Ticker) -- The usual suspects once again proved the Detroit Red Wings have righted the ship.

Henrik Zetterberg and Pavel Datsyuk each recorded two goals and an assist as the Red Wings extended their winning streak to five games Tuesday with a 5-3 triumph over the Nashville Predators.

Marian Hossa also tallied and defenseman Brian Rafalski notched three assists for Detroit, which had dropped five in a row prior to its current run.

"We had a tough stretch before these last five games," Zetterberg said. "We've had our bad stretch now, and now we have to focus ahead. We still have about 25 games left until the playoffs, and we have to work on those things that we need to get better on."

Joel Ward netted a pair of goals and Radek Bonk registered a tally and an assist in support of rookie Pekka Rinne's 46-save performance for the Predators, who have lost two straight after winning five of six.

"One of the things I said before the game with Detroit is that they are a very good team, and they've been a good team for a long time," Nashville coach Barry Trotz said. "We showed them way too much respect and gave them too much space. They know that, traditionally, we are a pretty good quick-start team, and they jumped on us early."

Perhaps re-signing Zetterberg to a 12-year contract extension on January 29 lifted a lingering burden from the team. General manager Ken Holland will turn his attention to keeping Johan Franzen and Hossa from testing the free-agent market come July 1.

Since inking Zetterberg, the Red Wings are 4-0-0 with the Swede in the lineup.

Zetterberg opened the scoring at 5:02 of the first period and Datsyuk followed with a power-play goal less than 5 1/2 minutes later.

"Our energy level is better," Detroit coach Mike Babcock said. "We talked about how we didn't have any energy there for a period of time. We seem to have more energy now and we're attacking better. We're going to get both goalies winning games, which is important."

The Red Wings outshot the Predators, 27-8, during the opening session - the most shots in any period for Detroit since recording 28 in the third on December 31, 1999 - and finished with a 51-21 advantage overall.

Hossa fired a hard wrist shot from the slot past Rinne during a man advantage at 4:18 of the middle session for his 31st tally of the season and what seemed to be a commanding 3-0 lead.

"I thought we got off to a really good start, and I thought we played a really good game the whole game," Babcock said. "We didn't really give up very much. When you only give up 20-something shots and not many scoring chances to that team, you've done a really good job."

However, Bonk got Nashville on the board just 72 seconds later with a power-play goal, and Ward cut the deficit to 3-2 with 8:37 left in the period by tipping the puck past goaltender Ty Conklin from the doorstep.

"We kind of got ourselves into a little trouble since we didn't come out mentally strong," Ward said. "We handled some things badly. They're one of the top teams in the league, and if you give them more shots, then you're going to get yourself into more trouble. We settled down and refocused, and that's the main thing."

Zetterberg converted a backhander 3:10 into the third, but Ward struck again to keep alive the Predators' comeback hopes, wristing the puck past Conklin midway through the session.

"We came back, but it's obviously tough to come from behind against Detroit like that," Rinne said. "That third period, I should have managed, but I made a mistake on Zetterberg, and it was a tough one."

But Datsyuk scored an empty-netter with 12 seconds remaining, securing the Red Wings' fourth winning streak of at least five games this season. The 30-year-old Russian has amassed five goals and 11 assists during his nine-game points streak.

"Tonight, their top players got all of their goals," Trotz said. "Their top players were good tonight, there's no question about that."

Conklin, who posted his sixth shutout of the season in Sunday's 3-0 win over Pittsburgh, made 18 saves.

"We did a great job of getting pucks on their net," Conklin said. "You're going to get goals when you get 50 shots on net."