Shorthanded Red Wings Blank Bruins

Missing two of their top five defensemen and returning from season-long five-game road trip, the Detroit Red Wings shutout the Boston Bruins Tuesday night with a strong performance by goalie Chris Osgood.

Osgood stopped 29 shots to earn the fiftieth shutout of his career. He is currently in second place among active goaltenders in career shutouts.

Brian Rafalski and Jonathan Ericsson missed the game with the flu. Doug Janik was called up from the Grand Rapids Griffins to join Derek Meetch filling in on the blueline.

All of the game’s scoring came in the first period.

Henrik Zetterberg got Detroit on the board with 5:39 left in the period, just two seconds into a power play. Pavel Datsyuk lost the faceoff but Zetterberg jumped up to snap the loose puck past Boston netminder Tim Thomas from the left faceoff circle.

Tomas Holmstrom put the Red Wings up by a pair 3:22 later. Todd Bertuzzi sent a breakout pass to Datsyuk, who cruised into the Bruins’ zone before sending a blind backhand pass to Holmstrom in the slot. Holmstrom shoveled the puck away from the Boston defense and past Thomas to make it 2-0.

Thomas finished the night with 24 saves on 26 Detroit chances.

The Bruins finished the night without a power play goal on three chances. Detroit went one-for-four with the extra attacker.

The Red Wings are back in action on Thursday when they host the San Jose Sharks.

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Detroit was without Brad May, who suffered an eye injury during Saturday’s win in Calgary. Ville Leino returned to the lineup to take his place.