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Late rally helps Detroit end winless streak in New Jersey

Dec 16, 2006 - 9:32 PM EAST RUTHERFORD, New Jersey (Ticker) -- The Detroit Red Wings struck quickly in the third period to end more than 13 years of frustration in New Jersey.

Pavel Datsyuk and defenseman Brett Lebda scored 2:16 apart midway through the final period as the Red Wings overcame a momentary meltdown by Dominik Hasek and edged the New Jersey Devils, 2-1, to end a nine-game winless streak at Continental Airlines Arena.

Winless in New Jersey since November 20, 1993, the Red Wings trailed, 1-0, before going on their seventh power play of the afternoon.

With 11:33 remaining, defenseman Mathieu Schneider missed the net with a slap shot from the right point. The puck caromed off the end boards into the left faceoff circle, where Datsyuk whipped it past diving goaltender Martin Brodeur for his seventh goal of the season.

Just over two minutes later, Lebda got a cross-ice pass from Jason Williams at the bottom of the left circle. Lebda, who was 11 years old the last time the Red Wings beat the Devils on the road, snapped a shot that found room over Brodeur's right shoulder in the top left corner of the net.

"(Williams) saw me moving back-door," Lebda said. "Brodeur was out a little bit, so I had a while to corral it and put it where I wanted. I was surprised I got it off that quick and beat him short side."

It was his second goal of the season and first in 18 games since November 1. Both tallies have been game-winners.

"I got a sort of phantom assist against Chicago (on Thursday)," Lebda said. "Sometimes, that's all it takes is one to get back on that streak."

Scott Gomez scored the lone goal for New Jersey, which has lost three straight following a five-game winning streak.

"The past few games are disappointing. They've really hurt us," Devils coach Claude Julien said. "Where we used to win games earlier on in the year because we were a very disciplined team, lately, it's cost us. We've taken penalties. We've used a lot of energy trying to kill those off, and it has taken away some of our momentum."

Gomez ended a nearly two-month scoring drought with a power-play goal midway through the second period. It followed a double-minor assessed to Hasek, who played the puck just outside the trapezoid behind his net and was penalized for delay of game.

As soon as referee Chris Lee signaled the penalty, Hasek broke his stick against the right goalpost, then tossed half of it across the ice, drawing an additional unsportsmanlike conduct minor.

"I was frustrated at the referee because I didn't think I was outside the line. I was frustrated at myself because maybe I was outside the line," said Hasek, who finished with 21 saves.

Ninety seconds into the power play, Gomez was tied up with defenseman Nicklas Lidstrom in front of the Red Wings' net, got a piece of Brian Gionta's wrist shot from the blue line and deflected it past Hasek. It was his fourth goal of the season and first in 14 games since October 24.

"I was disappointed because we didn't kill the penalty," Hasek said. "But it didn't change my focus or my concentration. After that, I shut the door and my teammates scored two goals."

New Jersey had a chance to tie in the final minute of the third period, when penalties to Robert Lang and defenseman Chris Chelios gave the Devils a two-man power play. Brodeur was pulled for an extra attacker and a 6-on-3 advantage, but Hasek held on during a furious goalmouth scramble.

The Devils were outshot, 36-22, with eight of their shots coming during the four-minute advantage that followed Hasek's penalties.

Detroit dominated most of the first two periods, but Lidstrom fired a shot off the left post during a power play late in the first and Kris Draper rang one of the other post early in the second.

Patience was the key, according to Red Wings coach Mike Babcock, whose team has won four straight on the road.

"That's what the whole plan was," he said. "We can improve our patience with the puck, not turn the puck over, not force things. Today was good because we got to use four lines. You're stronger in the third period if you can play four lines."