Helm, Alfredsson both score twice as Red Wings beat Islanders

By Nick Barnowski – 

Darren Helm, Daniel Alfredsson, and Jimmy Howard led the way as the Detroit Red Wings won their third straight game, defeating the New York Islanders 5-0.

Both Helm and Alfredsson scored two goals for the Red Wings (13-7-7). It was Helm’s third career two-goal game and first since March 5, 2010 against Nashville. His big night upped his goal total on the season to seven, with six of those coming in his past seven games. For Alfredsson, it was his first multi-goal game as a member of the Red Wings.

Howard made 29 saves for his second shutout of the season in his first start since Nov. 23 against Ottawa. For the Islanders (8-15-3), Kevin Poulin had 25 saves on 30 shots.

The Red Wings struck first as Helm continued his hot streak. Alfredsson skated into the New York zone and dropped the puck back for Helm who patiently skated in and deked to his backhand, eventually sliding it past Poulin for the goal.

Shortly into the second period the Islanders were able to kill off a Thomas Hickey penalty and didn’t allow the Wings to get a solid scoring chance with the man advantage. At the 14:06 mark the Islanders took another penalty but were able to shut Detroit’s power play down, allowing zero shots. With four seconds left in the New York penalty, Justin Abdelkader took an interference penalty, putting the Islanders on the power play for the first time in the game.

Helm added his second of the game in spectacular fashion while shorthanded. As the puck was cleared, Helm blew past New York’s Andrew MacDonald at the far blue line and was met by Poulin. He and Helm collided about five feet outside of the crease and the puck ricocheted off the winger’s leg, finding its way into the back of the net. It was Detroit’s second shorthanded goal of the season. Daniel Cleary and Jonathan Ericsson assisted on the goal, and for Cleary, it was his first point since Nov. 2.

Just 12 seconds in to the third period, Alfredsson put the Wings up 3-0 after sniping one in the top right corner on a breakaway. It was his fourth point in the past three games and was set up by a Brendan Smith pass that crossed all three lines in the neutral zone and found Alfredsson’s stick.

Gustav Nyquist added Detroit’s fourth goal of the game, sniping a shot over Poulin’s blocker after receiving a cross-ice pass from Johan Franzen on a two-on-one. It was Nyquist’s fourth goal in his past five games.

Alfredsson’s second of the game came with less than four minutes left in the game. Poulin stopped Abdelkader’s initial shot but the rebound came straight to Alfredsson at the side of the net and he finished it off.

Detroit will take on the Senators on Sunday in Alfredsson’s return to Ottawa for the first time since joining the Red Wings.