Legace Notches Second-straight Shutout as Red Wings Defeat Predators

Detroit Red Wings goaltender Manny Legace stopped all 20 shots he faced Wednesday night, leading his team to a 6-0 win over the visiting Nashville Predators. It marked the second game in a row that Legace did not allow a goal.

Detroit’s offense was productive from the start, with defenseman Nicklas Lidstrom scoring just 1:23 into the game. His slap shot from the point deflected off of Yanic Perrault and over Nashville goalie Tomas Vokoun’s arm to give the Red Wings the early lead.

At 7:14 of the second period, Brendan Shanahan scored his 25th of the season as the teams skated four aside. On a two-on-one rush with Pavel Datsyuk after a Nashville turnover, Shanahan wristed a shot from the right circle over Vokoun’s glove and into the far corner of the net.

Just 1:22 later, Mathieu Schneider extended the Wings’ lead. Henrik Zetterberg carried the puck into the Nashville zone backwards, barely staying onsides, before feeding Schneider for a blast from the left circle that went past Vokoun.

Zetterberg scored a goal of his own on Detroit’s lone power play opportunity with 5:09 remaining in the middle frame. After a faceoff win by Datsyuk, Nicklas Lidstrom fired a one-timer from the left circle on net. Vokoun made the stop but at the far side of the goal crease, Zetterberg gloved down the rebound and lifted it into an open net.

Chris Mason replaced Vokoun in the Predators’ net to start the third period but Nashville couldn’t stage a comeback.

With 5:21 remaining in the game, Mikael Samuelsson added a backhand goal that deflected off the stick of defenseman Kimmo Timonen.

Datsyuk finished the game’s scoring with 1:08 remaining, scoring on a wrister from the right circle while on a two-on-one with Steve Yzerman.

Vokoun’s night ended after he made 24 saves on 28 shots. Mason stopped six of the eight shots he faced.

The Detroit power play converted on their only opportunity while Nashville was held scoreless on two chances with the man-advantage.

The two teams will meet again on Thursday night from Nashville, closing out their home-and-home series.