Howard Blanks Ducks, Lidstrom Scores Twice as Wings End Skid

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13 years ago

Detroit goalie Jimmy Howard stopped all 22 shots he faced and captain Nicklas Lidstrom scored two goals as the Red Wings ended a six-game losing streak with a 5-0 win over the Anaheim Ducks.

Lidstrom and Johan Franzen led the Red Wings with three points on the night.

Niklas Kronwall opened the game’s scoring at 7:04 of the first period, just as a Detroit power play expired. His shot from the blue line found its way through traffic and past Anaheim’s Jonas Hiller to give the Wings an early lead.

Henrik Zetterberg made it 2-0 just 1:55 into the second period, kicking a pass from Franzen from his skate to his stick in the slot and snapping a shot past Hiller.

It was 3-0 just 50 seconds later when Lidstrom scored his first, a blast from the top of the left faceoff circle through a screen set by Fabian Brunnstrom.

Lidstrom added his second at 1:39 of the third period. With the Red Wings on a power play, Lidstrom first a shot from the blue line through a Tomas Holmstrom screen to beat Hiller.

Franzen finished off the game’s scoring with 9:23 left in the third. Ian White drove to the net after picking off an attempted outlet pass and Franzen followed him, putting him in position to backhand a loose puck past Hiller.

Hiller was pulled after the Franzen goal. He finished the night with 40 saves on 45 shots. Dan Ellis stopped all five shots he faced in relief.

The Red Wings scored on one of their four power play chances. The Ducks had five tries with the extra attacker but could not score.

Detroit will look to continue their winning ways when they host the Colorado Avalanche on Tuesday in the fourth game of a six game homestand.

The Red Wings were without Patrick Eaves (back) and Todd Bertuzzi (illness) for the game. Brunnstrom was called up earlier in the day to take Bertuzzi’s place in the lineup… Jakub Kindl was the healthy scratch on defense, with Mike Commodore staying in the lineup… The Ducks thought they had gotten on the board in the second period but the goal was waived off due to incidental contact between Corey Perry and Jimmy Howard.