Red Wings’ Skid Ends with Win over Avalanche

The Detroit Red Wings ended a losing streak with a win over the Colorado Avalanche for the second time this month on Sunday, picking up a 3-1 win after three losses in a row.

With a 4-3 shootout win in Denver on January 9, Detroit ended an earlier three-game slide.

While the chippy play that has defined the twelve-year Detroit-Colorado rivalry was absent, the game was not without controversy. After a lengthy review, the eventual game-winning goal was allowed to stand when replay seemed to show that it should be called back.

Tomas Holmstrom scored Detroit’s second goal, knocking the rebound of a Nicklas Lidstrom shot out of the air and past Colorado netminder Jose Theodore with 5:58 remaining in regulation. Theodore immediately skated to the officials, signaling that it was deflected above the crossbar. After review, the replay footage was deemed inconclusive and the goal was allowed to stand.

Only eight seconds later, Holmstrom was called for interference and the Avalanche pulled back within one on the ensuing power play.

Rookie Wojtek Wolski carried the puck through the slot and to the right of goalie Dominik Hasek before sending a pass across the top of the crease to Peter Stastny to tip the puck in from the far side of the net 27 seconds into the power play.

The Red Wings wrapped up their win with 1:06 remainging when Kirk Maltby deflected a shot from the point by Chris Chelios to Theodore’s right and just inside the post.

Detroit had opened the game’s scoring at 9:44 of the first period. Henrik Zetterberg wrapped around the back of the net with the puck before sending a pass into the slot for Pavel Datsyuk, who drifted to his left and outwaited Theodore before putting a shot under him.

The Red Wings allowed only 12 shots on the night, with Hasek making 11 saves. Theodore stopped 38 of the 41 shots he faced.

Colorado’s goal was the only goal scored with the extra attacker. Each team had three power play tries.

The Red Wings will be back in action on Tuesday when they make a rare trip into Eastern Conference territory, visiting the New York Islanders.

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Kris Draper, Robert Lang and Dominik Hasek were all back in the lineup after missing Friday’s game with the flu. With their returns, Matt Ellis and Matt Hussey were sent back to Grand Rapids.