Final
Detroit blanks Phoenix to keep pace in playoff hunt
Apr 23, 2013 - 3:55 AM Detroit, MI (Sports Network) - Jimmy Howard stopped all 34 shots for his fourth shutout of the year and it came at a big time as Detroit took a 4-0 win over Phoenix.Detroit came into the game three points out of a playoff spot, but now has 50 points and sits just one back of Columbus and Minnesota for a spot in the Western Conference postseason.
"This was a huge game for us tonight," said Howard. "Knowing where we were in the standings and coming off a disappointing road trip, we knew we needed these two points if we're going to get in."
Minnesota and Detroit both have three games to play and Columbus has two left on its schedule.
Phoenix, meanwhile, is in dire straits with its playoff hopes hanging by a thread. The team has 46 points with three games to play.
"Things don't look like they're in our favor right now," said Phoenix head coach Dave Tippett. "But there's no quit in this group, we'll come home and take it one game at a time."
Johan Franzen scored twice, Damien Brunner posted a goal and an assist while Valtteri Filppula also scored for the Red Wings, who came into the game having dropped five of their last six. Henrik Zetterberg gave three assists on the night.
Mike Smith gave up three goals on 22 shots for the Coyotes, who have lost four of their past five games.
Detroit got the only goal it needed 2:37 in as a right point shot from Brunner was re-directed in by Franzen in the slot for a power-play goal.
Skating on the power play again late in the opening period, Detroit took a 2-0 lead when Brunner finished off a Zetterberg pass for his 12th goal of the year with 35.4 seconds to play.
The Red Wings power play continued to click as the team took a 3-0 lead when Zetterberg set up Filppula for a shot from the low right side that beat Smith with 3:51 to play in the second.
Franzen finished off the win with an empty-net goal with just 1:22 to play.
Game Notes
Howard has 15 shutouts in his career ... Detroit's power play was 3-for-5 in the game while Phoenix went 0-for-4 ... The Red Wings took two of the three games against the Coyotes this season ... Detroit hosts Los Angeles on Wednesday ... Phoenix hosts San Jose on Wednesday.
- PHOENIX: 0
DETROIT: 4
Final
Apr 22 10:06 PM - Detroit Empty Net Goal - Johan Franzen (12), from Jonathan Ericsson at 18:38.
Coyotes 0, Red Wings 4 3rd - 1:22Apr 22 10:02 PM - PHOENIX: 0
DETROIT: 3
End of 2nd
Apr 22 9:11 PM - Detroit Power-Play Goal - Valtteri Filppula (8), from Henrik Zetterberg and Niklas Kronwall at 16:09.
Coyotes 0, Red Wings 3 2nd - 3:51Apr 22 9:02 PM - PHOENIX: 0
DETROIT: 2
End of 1st
Apr 22 8:15 PM - Detroit Power-Play Goal - Damien Brunner (12), at 19:24.
Coyotes 0, Red Wings 2 1st - 0:36Apr 22 8:14 PM - Detroit Power-Play Goal - Johan Franzen (11), at 2:37.
Coyotes 0, Red Wings 1 1st - 17:23Apr 22 7:44 PM - PHOENIX: 0
DETROIT: 0
1st Period - 20:00
Apr 22 7:40 PM
Related News
- We've moved Mar 30
- Gamethread: Red Wings vs Hurricanes Mar 30
- Morning Skate: Red Wings vs. Hurricanes — Preview, How to Watch Mar 30
- Quick Hits: The Last Edition Mar 30
- Quick Hits: The Eve of Destruction Edition Mar 29
- Hot tempers and hot hands: Wings beat Pens 7-4 in a barn burner Mar 28
- Red Wings vs Penguins: Rank ‘Em! Mar 28
- Gamethread: Red Wings vs Penguins Mar 28
- Morning Skate: Red Wings vs. Penguins — Preview, How to Watch Mar 28
- Quick Hits: The Willy Wally Edition Mar 28
- The Six wins their first Isobel Cup, beating the Whitecaps 4-3 in overtime Mar 27
- Coyotes Game 75 Preview: Coyotes host the Oilers in the second game of a back-to-back Mar 27