Power Play Lifts Red Wings over Canucks

The Detroit Red Wings scored both of their goals Thursday night on the power play and that was all they needed to defeat the Vancouver Canucks, 2-1.

Detroit’s power play has been active in recent games, accounting for the team’s last seven goals and striking in twelve-straight games.

The Red Wings’ first power play goal came with 8:53 remaining in the second period. With two Canucks in the penalty box, Nicklas Lidstrom took a pass from Robert Lang and scored on a one-timer from the inside edge of the left faceoff circle.

With 7:00 remaining in the game, a Brendan Shanahan wrist shot from the right circle beat Vancouver goalie Alexander Auld to put Detroit in the lead. The goal would stand up as the game-winner, the one-hundredth of Shanahan’s career.

Anson Carter had opened the scoring for Vancouver with 6:50 remaining in the first period. A pass from Daniel Sedin broke Carter in behind Detroit defenseman Brett Lebda. Carter cut in from the left wing in front of goaltender Manny Legace and skated around him to put the puck in the net.

The Canucks nearly tied the game with approximately 40 seconds remaining in regulation. With Auld on the bench for an extra attacker, severak Vancouver players tried to jam a rebound under Legace. The puck slipped across the goal line but not before referee Mike Leggo made the decision to blow play dead.

The Detroit power play finished the game two-for-six while the Red Wings held the Canucks scoreless on their four chances with the extra man.

Legace made 14 saves on 15 shots while Auld stopped 33 of 35 Detroit chances.

The Red Wings are back in action on Saturday when they visit the Dallas Stars.

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Combined with the Nashville Predators’ loss to the Minnesota Wild on Thursday, the Red Wings’ win moves them into sole possession of first place in the Western Conference.