Last-second play means 22 straight wins at the Joe
By Michael Caples –
DETROIT – Pavel Datsyuk said he wasn’t surprised about the pass he received from Henrik Zetterberg with only seconds remaining in regulation.
Pavel Datsyuk is, like almost everything else he does hockey-wise, in the minority.
A game that seemed destined for overtime changed in a heartbeat, when Nicklas Lidstrom’s behind-the-back pass to Zetterberg jumpstarted the decisive play. Zetterberg fired a one-touch pass cross-ice to a streaking Datsyuk, through a crowd in the neutral zone, allowing Datsyuk to enter the Nashville zone with speed.
The gifted scorer made a quick deke to fly by all-star Ryan Suter, then roofed a shot past Pekka Rinne to give the Red Wings a 2-1 win over Nashville.
“Z make the perfect pass,” Datsyuk said. “I have speed, and I go to forward. But then Suter was in a tough position, because if you’re looking forward, but not behind. It was kind of lucky for me, unlucky for them because he goes forward, and I had more speed.”
The win is the Red Wings’ 22nd straight on home ice, extending the NHL record now they own all to themselves.
Making the final play perhaps even more impressive was the fact that nobody knew if Zetterberg would even play tonight. Most reports had him ruled out of the line-up, yet he was out for the opening warm-ups, and then played a crucial role in the game-winning goal.
“It was fun to play,” Zetterberg said. “I was kind of bummed yesterday when we talked about not playing, so I came in today, felt a little bit better, and kind of made the decision here just before the game.”
But the night belonged to Datsyuk, who not only scored the game-winner, but set up the Wings’ other goal, as well.
Falling to the ice after trying to curl back along the boards in the Nashville zone, Datsyuk managed to corral the puck while laying on the ice, then send a pass to Todd Bertuzzi. One pass later, and Johan Franzen had enough time to beat Rinne from the slot for his 23rd goal of the season.
The Russian star, who is never shy about cracking a joke, blamed the spill on something you don’t usually see at a hockey game.
“I think a sniper shoot me in the leg in the corner,” Datsyuk said. “And then I fall. Lucky that I was able to keep the puck on my stick and I just throw to middle, I know that somebody is coming. Bert is always around puck.”
Datsyuk said the Wings will continue to search for the ‘sniper’.