LOS ANGELES 4, DETROIT 2
The Los Angeles Kings, fighting for a playoff spot, beat the Red
Wings 4-2. The Red Wings may also be fighting for a playoff spot
the way they are playing as of late. The professor Igor Larionov
tied the score with two goals in a seven-minute span, including his
first short-handed goal of the season. But it wasn't enough. It was
the second straight time that the Kings have beaten the Wings this
season.
"Some teams, for whatever the reason, really get up for another team
and obviously, we're the team for them," defenseman Jamie Macoun
said. "They love to play us and try to show exactly where they
belong. They're trying to prove that they're not seven points out of
the playoffs."
After blowing a two-goal advantage, the Kings regained the lead for
good midway through the second period. Luc Robitaille made a blind
backhanded pass into the slot and Glen Murray slid the puck to
Laperriere, who fought off a check by Maltby before putting his
eighth goal past Chris Osgood from 25 feet out front.
"You expect a team like that to play hard when they're trying to
make the playoffs," Larionov said. "They played well against us in
Detroit a couple of weeks ago and tonight they had confidence
because they remembered that game. They played well defensively
and were disciplined."
A two-goal lead was once money in the bag for the Champs. Now it is
not a sure thing as defensively the Wings are not clicking
whatsoever. A deal may be done to shore up the defense.
SAN JOSE 2, DETROIT 0
The Wings fired 26 shots at Steve Shields. But none could get passed
him as they were shut out 2-0.
"I always wanted to play for the Red Wings when I was in school,"
Shields said after his first career win over Detroit. "They're big
back there, and I consider that home, so it's kind of special to
beat them. Hopefully it won't be a habit. It was the first time
the Sharks have shut out the Red Wings in their eight- year NHL
history, and it was only their sixth victory over the Red Wings in
31 regular-season games (6-23- 2).
Normy Maracle stopped 32 shots as San Jose outshot the Red Wings,
34-26. It was only the fourth loss in 37 games this season for the
Red Wings when they have held their opponents to two or fewer
goals. They are 30-4-3 in those games.
Center Sergei Fedorov was still serving part of his five-game league
suspension. "Losing Fedorov was a big price to pay," coach Scotty
Bowman said. "It seems to be catching up with us. We miss his offense
because other teams have been shutting us down pretty well."
DETROIT 3, COLORADO 1
The Red Wings finished up a bad road trip on a good note beating
Conference rivals Colorado 3-1. Vyacheslav Kozlov and rookie Stacy
Roest scored second-period goals and backup goalie Norm Maracle had
21 saves in the win. Maracle, getting his second straight start,
allowed only a third-period goal to Joe Sakic to snap the Red
Wings' three-game losing streak and end Colorado's three-game
winning streak.
"We haven't done very well on the road this year," head coach
Scotty Bowman said, "but now we have 15 games left , 10 at home and
only five on the road. We've virtually done our traveling. Now
we'll get some guys back who are getting healthier -- Uwe Krupp,
Todd Gill, Brent Gilchrist, Joey Kocur."
With the win the Wings stayed six points ahead of the St. Louis
Blues in the Central Division and also narrowed Colorado's lead in
the battle for the No. 2 record in the conference to four points.
"It would have been disappointing if we lost tonight," Maracle
said. "We won the last game on the road, and now maybe we can go
home and continue winning. "I haven't played a whole lot this year
because Ozzie is our No. 1 goaltender. When you're No. 2 or 3 and
you get to play two games in a row, it's a big bonus. When I get
my chances, I've got to play really well. They said last game I
played pretty good. I had to have another good performance so
hopefully I can play in the future."
Igor Larionov scored an empty netter for insurance late in the third
period.
PHOENIX 4, DETROIT 3
With one second left in the game Keith Tkachuk scored a goal which
lifted the slumping Coyotes to a 4-3 win over the Red Wings. Yes I
said with just one second left in the game. That is 19:59 of the
third period.
Martin Lapointe said the Red Wings sat back in the third period and
got hosed. "In the third, at the end, you can't play sloppy like
that, especially against a team like that," Lapointe said. "They've
got a lot of snipers, and we paid."
Red hot Slava Kozlov had two goals and an assist and Nicklas
Lidstrom also scored in the deflating loss.
Norm Maracle had 24 saves in his third straight start replacing
Chris Osgood, who was a healthy scratch.
Sergei Fedorov was scoreless in his first game back. The Wings
played without forward Kirk Maltby, who was serving the first game
of a four-game suspension for breaking the arm of Colorado's
Valeri Kamensky with his stick.
The Red Wings had an apparent goal from Doug Brown In the third
waived off because Steve Yzerman's left foot was in the crease.
That rule has to go!
DETROIT 5, TAMPA BAY 3
Sergei Fedorov had two goals and an assist in his second game from
suspension. He helped as the Red Wings beat the Tampa Bay
Lightning, 5-3 while being outshot. "My first game was in Phoenix
and I was a little tight sometimes at the end of a shift," Fedorov
said. "Today I think I completely bounced back and I feel really,
really well."
Fedorov and Nicklas Lidstrom scored short-handed goals 22 seconds
apart in the third period. Vyacheslav Kozlov added a goal
completing a three-goal Detroit burst over a 1:48 span.
With the win, the Red Wings increased their division lead to five
points the St. Louis Blues. "I think from our point of view, it
was a very important game," Fedorov said. "The important thing is
we just want to play well."
Wendel Clark got his third hat trick this season for the Lightning.
He would look great sporting the winged wheel. Nonetheless the Red
Wings have a nine-game unbeaten streak (8-0-1) against the
Lightning.
Tampa Bay, which outshot the Red Wings, 12-2, during the opening 12
minutes and 17-9 in the first period, had been shut out its two
previous games.
Left wing Brent Gilchrist played 17 shifts totaling 12:34 in his
first game this season. He had been sidelined since undergoing
hernia surgery last September.
PHILADELPHIA 5, DETROIT 4
The Philadelphia Flyers ended their 12-game winless streak with a
comeback victory over the Red Wings. A game in which the Wings
blew a two goal lead twice and lost 5-4.
Eric Lindros took a pass in front of the net and fired a shot past
goalie Chris Osgood who on this day could not stop a beach ball.
Fedorov was supposed to cover Lindros but lazily did the European
try a poke check that didn't work.
You just knew coming in that the Flyers would end their streak
against the Red Wings. Despite the fact that Brendan Shanahan
scored twice for the Red Wings it wasn't enough as he let his man
free on the tying goal. "Obviously, they put pretty much a full
press-attack on. I mean they were desperate, they put a lot of
pucks on the net," said Shanahan. "With a team like the Flyers, you
don't want to spend a lot of time in your own end. They're so big
and strong." Slava Kozlov scored as well for the Wings in the joke
of a game.
Playing like this the Red Wings are doomed for an early round
playoff exit. There seems to be no urgency in their defensive
game. Whether is complacency or what, things are not looking
pretty. They do have the talent. One would hope that the
underachieving Fedorov would start to get his game in gear. The
addition of Krupp should help and they desperately need Gill back.
Chelio would look great on this team as would Wendel Clark. As the
other teams get Recchi, Fleury, Bure, and Reichel, the Red Wings
will need to bolster the lineup as well. A starting goalie that
can actually save a game and win on his own a few would be nice.
Chris Osgood while having won a Stanley Cup isn't sharp and the
Red Wings will pay the price if he doesn't improve. They say a
goalie is only as good as the team in front of him. Well that is
true to a point. But they are playing with no confidence coz he
doesn't make the big save and seems to let the one weak goal a
game in. It's time to start hitting and skating. It's now or never
for the Red Wings. There is a lot at stake here. Let's hope the
Wings will fly again. It won't be easy this time.
