The Detroit Red Wings earned a 3-2 shootout win over the Anaheim Ducks Wednesday night, opening their season with a victory over the team that elminated them from the playoffs last spring.
Jiri Hudler scored the only goal of the shootout, faking out goalie Ilya Bryzgalov in the third round. Bryzgalov had previously stopped Pavel Datsyuk and Henrik Zetterberg, while Detroit goalie Dominik Hasek made saves on Todd Bertuzzi, Ryan Getzlaf, and Corey Perry.
The Red Wings got on the board first with a power play goal by Zetterberg at 9:46 of the first period. Left all alone in the right faceoff circle, Zetterberg wristed a shot over Bryzgalov’s shoulder.
The Ducks tied things up with 5:28 remaining in the second. A shot by Perry deflected off the skate of Detroit defenseman Andreas Lilja and to the slot, where former Red Wing Bertuzzi grabbed it and wristed it past Hasek.
Bertuzzi connected with Getzlaf for Anaheim’s second goal, scored on the power play with 42 seconds remaining in the period.
Tomas Holmstrom tied the game at 4:04 of the third period on another power play goal. After a blast by Brian Rafalski, the puck came to Zetterberg at the side of the net. He threw it out front and Holmstrom lifted it over Bryzgalov.
Rafalski wasn’t the only Red Wings newcomer to make his presence felt, as Dallas Drake got in a second-period fight with Perry.
Hasek made 13 saves on 15 shots against. Bryzgalov stopped 40 of 42 Detroit shots.
Detroit went two-for-seven on the power play while Anaheim was one-for-five.
The Red Wings are back in action on Saturday when they visit the Chicago Blackhawks, featuring former Red Wing Robert Lang.
