DETROIT (Ticker) -- Henrik Zetterberg scored a goal and set up
two others Friday, leading the Detroit Red Wings to a 5-2
triumph over the Anaheim Ducks in a meeting between the last two
Stanley Cup winners.
All-Star Pavel Datsyuk netted the game-winner and added an
assist for the defending champion Red Wings, who have won eight
of their last 10 contests.
"I think we had a good game," Zetterberg said. "We got off to a
good start. It's a good mix on our line."
Dan Cleary, Johan Franzen and Kris Draper also tallied and Ty
Conklin made 24 saves for Detroit (39-12-8), which moved within
one of the San Jose Sharks (39-8-9) for the top spot in the
Western Conference.
"We were really good," Conklin said. "Certainly the first two
periods, we controlled the play for the most part for the whole
period. We had a lot of power plays, but we were working hard
to get those calls. It was a real good win."
Conklin has now won 11 straight home games. The 32-year-old
netminder has not lost at Joe Louis Arena since November 26.
"We've been playing pretty well for a while here," Conklin said.
"We're capitalizing on the power play. It gives everyone
confidence. It makes it tough on the other teams."
Ryan Getzlaf and rookie Bobby Ryan scored, All-Star
Jean-Sebastien Giguere turned aside 29 shots and Teemu Selanne
collected two assists for the Ducks (28-27-5), who have lost
three straight contests and remain one point behind the
eighth-place Edmonton Oilers (29-25-4) in the West.
"It's desperation time right now," Giguere said. "We need to
quickly move on from this game and learn from our mistakes."
Datsyuk snapped a 1-1 with 34 seconds remaining in the first
period, scoring a power-play goal with a one-timer off a
centering pass from Zetterberg. Datsyuk, who has 25 goals on
the season, repaid the favor in the next session.
Zetterberg gave the Red Wings a 3-1 bulge with 8:21 left in the
second with another man-advantage tally.
"They're making good plays and getting some time in space," Red
Wings coach Mike Babcock said of the power play. "They're
getting the puck back. It's not one and done. They're getting
the puck back, wearing the penalty killers out and suddenly nice
things happen."
Datsyuk, the Selke Trophy recipient last season, forced a
turnover in the corner and delivered a pass to Zetterberg in the
slot. The reigning Conn Smythe Trophy winner, Zetterberg
converted with a one-timer for his 22nd goal of the campaign.
"It was a good game for us," Zetterberg said. "It seemed like
the puck was bouncing our way tonight. We just have to enjoy
this because we'll have some nights when it doesn't all go our
way."
Franzen extended the Red Wings' lead to 4-1 with an unassisted
goal, his 25th of the season, just 83 ticks into the final
session.