TGTW: Wings’ Win Streak Hits Six

The Games That Weren’t is one of many projects simulating the games lost by the NHL lockout. In the absence of actual games to write about, I’ll be checking in periodically on the fictional Red Wings’ season.

The Detroit Red Wings extended their winning streak to six games in the tenth week of the season, picking up victories over the Boston Bruins, Phoenix Coyotes, and Nashville Predators.

A two-goal second period lifted the Wings to their 2-1 win over the Bruins on Monday night. Pavel Datsyuk and Drew Miller scored in the second half of the middle frame and Adam McQuiad’s third period goal wouldn’t be enough for Boston. Jimmy Howard made 19 saves on 20 shots to earn the win.

On Thursday, Howard faced only twelve shots, allowing one goal in a 5-1 win over the Coyotes. Todd Bertuzzi opened the game’s scoring at 4:08 of the first period and Ian White’s second of the season made it 2-0 at 8:18. Johan Franzen scored on a power play with 6:49 left in the second period. Phoenix got on the board with a Steve Sullivan power play goal at 5:01 of the third but former Coyote Danny Cleary responded for the Wings just 53 seconds later. Jakub Kindl rounded out the scoring with 7:01 remaining.

On Saturday night in Nashville, the Wings limited the Predators to 17 shots and Howard stopped them all, en route to a 3-0 win. Miller scored with 42 seconds left in the first period, Filppula with 3:14 in the second, and Datsyuk with 6:50 in the third to secure the victory.

After ten weeks, the Red Wings remain atop the Central Division, with two points and a game in hand on the Predators. They’re ten points back of the league-leading Los Angeles Kings.

With his blanking of Nashville, Jimmy Howard moved into a tie with Martin Brodeur for most shutouts in the league with five.

In the coming week, Detroit will host the Kings on Tuesday, the New York Islanders on Thursday and the Columbus Blue Jackets on Saturday before taking a break for Christmas.