• Preview
• Recap
• Bleachers

Zetterberg, Datsyuk help Red Wings top Ducks

Feb 21, 2009 - 6:05 AM DETROIT (Ticker) -- Henrik Zetterberg scored a goal and set up two others Friday, leading the Detroit Red Wings to a 5-2 triumph over the Anaheim Ducks in a meeting between the last two Stanley Cup winners.

All-Star Pavel Datsyuk recored a goal and an assist for the defending champion Red Wings, who have won eight of their last 10 contests.

"I think we had a good game," Zetterberg said. "We got off to a good start. It's a good mix on our line."

Dan Cleary, Johan Franzen and Kris Draper also tallied and Ty Conklin made 24 saves for Detroit (39-12-8), which moved within one of the San Jose Sharks (39-8-9) for the top spot in the Western Conference.

"We were really good," Conklin said. "Certainly the first two periods, we controlled the play for the most part for the whole period. We had a lot of power plays, but we were working hard to get those calls. It was a real good win."

Conklin has now won 11 straight home games. The 32-year-old netminder has not lost at Joe Louis Arena since November 26.

"We've been playing pretty well for a while here," Conklin said. "We're capitalizing on the power play. It gives everyone confidence. It makes it tough on the other teams."

Ryan Getzlaf and rookie Bobby Ryan scored, All-Star Jean-Sebastien Giguere turned aside 29 shots and Teemu Selanne collected two assists for the Ducks (28-27-5), who have lost three straight contests and remain one point behind the eighth-place Edmonton Oilers (29-25-4) in the West.

"It's desperation time right now," Giguere said. "We need to quickly move on from this game and learn from our mistakes."

Datsyuk snapped a 1-1 with 34 seconds remaining in the first period, scoring a power-play goal with a one-timer off a centering pass from Zetterberg. Datsyuk, who has 25 goals on the season, repaid the favor in the next session.

Zetterberg gave the Red Wings a 3-1 bulge with 8:21 left in the second with another man-advantage tally.

"They're making good plays and getting some time in space," Red Wings coach Mike Babcock said of the power play. "They're getting the puck back. It's not one and done. They're getting the puck back, wearing the penalty killers out and suddenly nice things happen."

Datsyuk, the Selke Trophy recipient last season, forced a turnover in the corner and delivered a pass to Zetterberg in the slot. The reigning Conn Smythe Trophy winner, Zetterberg converted with a one-timer for his 22nd goal of the campaign.

"It was a good game for us," Zetterberg said. "It seemed like the puck was bouncing our way tonight. We just have to enjoy this because we'll have some nights when it doesn't all go our way."

Franzen extended the Red Wings' lead to 4-1 with an unassisted goal, his 25th of the season, just 83 ticks into the final session.