• Preview
• Recap
• Bleachers

Zetterberg, Hasek lead Red Wings to sixth straight win

Feb 2, 2008 - 4:55 AM DETROIT (Ticker) -- Henrik Zetterberg and the Detroit Red Wings had to stay patient.

In a game his team dominated, Zetterberg snapped a scoreless tie with 2:20 remaining in the third period and Dominik Hasek stopped 15 shots as the Red Wings posted a 2-0 victory over the Colorado Avalanche on Friday.

Kris Draper added an empty-net goal and All-Star Pavel Datsyuk recorded two assists for Detroit, which improved to 3-0-0 against Colorado this season.

The Red Wings controlled play, outshooting the Avalanche, 23-4, over the first two periods, but could not break through until late in the third.

"That's the way teams are going to play us," Zetterberg said. "They're going to stay back and hope that we make a mistake. We have to stay focused and keep putting the puck on the net and keep three guys back. We knew we'd eventually score, even if it came in a shootout. We just have to stay focused and find a way to get the two points."

"That game was what you'd expect in the first round of the playoffs," Detroit coach Mike Babcock added. "They're fighting for their playoff lives. Both teams checked, checked, checked. (Colorado coach Joel Quenneville) did a good job of managing his bench and getting good matchups. I thought we limited their opportunities."

Zetterberg, who was voted to start the All-Star Game but chose to skip the event because of a lingering back injury, scored for the second straight game after missing the previous two contests prior to the break.

The Red Wings' leading scorer, Zetterberg's 30th goal was all Hasek needed. The six-time Vezina Trophy winner posted his fourth shutout of the season by stopping three shots in the first period, just one in the second and 11 in the third.

"There was not much action in the first and second periods. Only four shots, but it was still 0-0," Hasek said. "You never know what can happen. They score on a rebound and it can change the momentum and the game. I know if I make one mistake, it can cost us the game, so I have to stay focused.

"Of course I'd like more action, but we won the game."

Overall, it was Hasek's 80th career shutout.

Zetterberg and Datsyuk helped Detroit finally beat Peter Budaj, who stopped 34 shots.

Datsyuk sent a pass from the left side to Zetterberg, who went around the net and scored on a wraparound with less than 2 1/2 minutes to go.

The puck bounced off a stick and floated high into the air before entering in the right side of the net.

"I thought Homer (Tomas Holmstrom) was in front, so I just tried to put the puck out in front," Zetterberg said. "I think it went in off the goalie's stick. If it didn't go in, I thought we'd have a chance for a rebound."

Draper sealed the victory with 13 seconds left.

"That was a very tough ending," Quenneville said. "To come that close to getting something and have it get away on a lucky bounce, we spoiled a very special night by our goaltender. I thought our third period was our best period. We weren't too crazy about how we played in the early part of the game."

Missing its top three scorers, Colorado put forth a valiant effort against Detroit, which leads the NHL with 82 points.

The Avalanche, who have lost 13 of the last 18 meetings between the teams, were without center Paul Stastny (appendix), captain Joe Sakic (hernia) and left wing Ryan Smyth (ankle).

"In this league, when a team has key players out, it seems to play harder," Babcock said.

Colorado appeared to get on the scoreboard with 8.7 seconds left in the second, but the goal was waved off because of incidental contact.

Milan Hejduk shot the puck past Hasek, but referee Greg Kimmerly disallowed it as Avalanche defenseman Scott Hannan bumped the netminder.