Red Wings’ Power Play Downs Predators

The Detroit Red Wings scored five times with the man-advantage Wednesday night en route to a 6-2 win over the Nashville Predators. The league’s top power play finished five-for-six on the night.

Jiri Hudler, Henrik Zetterberg and Nicklas Lidstrom scored one power play goal each and Johan Franzen tallied twice with the extra attacker. Lidstrom added Detroit’s lone even-strength goal.

Steve Sullivan scored both of Nashville’s goals, including one on a power play. The Predators were one-for-six with Detroit a man down.

Hudler opened the game’s scoring exactly five minutes into the game, backhanding a shot from the low slot past Nashville netminder Dan Ellis.

Zetterberg scored on his own rebound 3:26 later to put the Wings up by a pair.

Sullivan’s first of the night came with seven seconds left in the period and the Predators skating with the extra attacker. Sullivan fired a shot from the point off of both Pavel Datsyuk and Andreas Lilja before flying past Detroit goalie Ty Conklin for his first goal in over two years.

Lidstrom scored his even-strength goal on a one-timer from the left point at 10:01 of the second period. Niklas Kronwall attempted a pass down low from the right point but the puck deflected right to Lidstrom for the chance.

Sullivan scored again 2:41 later, converting on a three-on-two chance.

Franzen’s first came with 3:58 left in the middle frame. He corralled a bouncing puck at the side of the Nashville net and lifted a shot over the sprawling Ellis.

Just 1:08 into the third, Lidstrom slammed a one-timer from the left faceoff dot past Ellis to give the Red Wings a three-goal lead.

Franzen finished off the scoring with 4:22 left.

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The win was Detroit head coach Mike Babcock’s 200th with the Red Wings… Franzen returned to the Detroit lineup after missing five games with a hand injury.