• Preview
• Recap
• Bleachers

Conklin, Red Wings end Blackhawks' nine-game win streak

Dec 31, 2008 - 4:22 AM DETROIT (Ticker) -- Ty Conklin and the Detroit Red Wings refused to let the Chicago Blackhawks bring the franchise's longest winning streak into the Winter Classic.

Conklin made 36 saves to record his third shutout of the season and Johan Franzen scored two goals as the Red Wings snapped the Blackhawks' nine-game winning streak with a 4-0 victory Tuesday.

"We played good, but they played better for the first 10 minutes," Franzen said. "We got a couple of penalties and 'Conks' stood on his head to keep us in the game. Then, we took over and played a really solid game."

Pavel Datsyuk netted a goal and set up another while defensemen Niklas Kronwall and Brian Rafalski each had two assists for Detroit, which visits Chicago on Thursday at Wrigley Field for the outside contest.

"It should be fun," Datsyuk said. "Everybody remembers what it was like as kids to play outside."

Tomas Kopecky also tallied for the Red Wings, who avoided their first three-game losing streak of the season.

The 32-year-old Conklin turned aside 16 shots in the first period, eight more in the next and 12 in the third to complete his seventh career shutout. He improved to 6-0-0 against the Blackhawks in his career.

"The defense was outstanding, especially on the penalty kill," Conklin said. "I think it was big to get out of there (after two early penalties) tied, 0-0."

"'Conks' was really good on those power plays," Detroit coach Mike Babcock said. "He saved us a couple times when we made mistakes. That's what penalty killing is all about. Goaltending is your best penalty killer."

Datsyuk opened the scoring with 4:09 left in the first, notching his 15th goal of the season on a power play. The reigning Selke and Lady Byng Trophy winner registered his first game-winner in 2008-09.

Franzen doubled the advantage at 6:58 of the middle session, converting a pass from Rafalski for another power-play goal with one tick remaining on the man advantage. He then made it 3-0 just 37 seconds into the third, scoring his 17th goal of the season on a wraparound.

"When you take penalties, you're in trouble," Babcock said. "It was interesting. As soon as they took their penalties, they were in trouble. We're two talented teams and if you get shorthanded, it gets ugly fast."

Chicago coach Joel Quenneville agreed that the early penalties were the difference in the game.

"I liked our start," he said. "Then, they got one on the power play. We hit a post and take a penalty. Then they get another one on the power play. Instead of 1-1, it's 2-0. Then, you have to open it up and that plays right into their hands."

Kopecky provided the final margin, firing a wrist shot past Chicago goaltender Nikolai Khabibulin on a breakaway started by Valtteri Filppula's pass.

Khabibulin stopped 35 shots for the Blackhawks, who have lost all three of their meetings with the Red Wings this campaign - including two in a shootout.

"I think we played just as well as we have been," Chicago captain Jonathan Toews said. "We just played a better team. Regardless of where we are in the standings, we always want to beat the Red Wings."