Conklin, Datsyuk Lead Red Wings Past Blue Jackets

Ty Conklin stopped all 23 shots he faced and Pavel Datsyuk played a part in all three Detroit goals Tuesday night as the pair carried the Red Wings to a 3-0 victory over the Columbus Blue Jackets.

The shutout was Conklin’s fourth of the season and second in a row at home. All four have come at Joe Louis Arena.

Conklin’s biggest stop of the night came about nine minutes into the game, when he stretched across the crease to knock down a Michael Peca shot that looked like it was going into the open side of the net.

“That was basically a goal into an empty net and he made an unbelievable save,” Detroit sniper Marian Hossa said. “The game could have gone either way… He saved a huge goal and then we started playing well a little after that.”

Datsyuk scored the game’s first goal on a Red Wings’ power play 3:45 into the third period. The puck squirted free after a scramble at the crease and Datsyuk jumped up to put it back on net and in.

Just 2:14 later Hossa snapped a shot past Columbus netminder Steve Mason on another power play, giving Datsyuk his second point of the night.

Henrik Zetterberg added an empty-net goal with 30 seconds remaining in the game. Datsyuk stole the puck at the Detroit blue line but lost his stick in the process, then kicked the puck up to Zetterberg, earning him his second assist and third point.

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Detroit’s Chris Chelios played in his 880th career win, breaking a tie with Scott Stevens for most all-time.