Red Wings, Zetterberg Continue Streaks

The Red Wings and star forward Henrik Zetterberg both continued streaks with Detroit’s 4-1 win over the Columbus Blue Jackets on Friday night.

The victory was the team’s ninth-straight, tying a franchise record that was also reached at this time last season, while Zetterberg’s third-period goal extended his point-scoring streak to sixteen games.

Zetterberg wrapped up the game’s scoring with 1:28 remaining. Columbus defenseman Rostislav Klesla deflected a shot from the point by Brian Rafalski directly to Zetterberg in the right circle. Klesla went down to block Zetterberg’s shot but Zetterberg outwaited him, waiting for Klesla to slide past before putting the puck between the pads of Pascal Leclaire.

Detroit got on the board first with a power play goal by Brett Lebda with 7:00 left in the first period.

The Red Wings held the puck in the Columbus zone on a Blue Jackets’ clearing attempt and Jiri Hudler got it to Mikael Samuelsson in the left circle. Samuelsson crossed it over to Lebda who wristed it past Leclaire with Dan Cleary screening.

Rick Nash tied the game only 49 seconds into the second period with the Blue Jackets on a five-on-three. After a one-timer from the point, the puck bounced around the edge of the crease and the Red Wings couldn’t clear. David Vyborny knocked it down low to Nash to bang in behind Dominik Hasek.

Tomas Holmstrom replied with Detroit’s second power play goal of the night with 6:07 remaining in the period. The puck came off the back boards to Holmstrom at the side of the net. Holmstrom’s first shot was stopped by Leclaire but the Columbus goalie fell off the post, leaving a gap for the rebound.

Cleary scored at 8:40 of the third to give the Red Wings some breathing room, pushing in his own rebound after cutting hard to the front of the net and taking a pass from Kirk Maltby at the left wing.

The Red Wings finished the game with two power play goals on six chances with the extra attacker. The Blue Jackets went one-for-seven with the goal coming on one of their two two-man advantages.

Hasek made 15 saves on 16 shots in his first game back from a hip injury. Leclaire stopped 32 of 36 shots against.

The Red Wings will be back in action on Sunday when they visit the Chicago Blackhawks in the third game of a nine-game stretch against Central Division opponents.