ST. LOUIS
Brendan Shanahan scored a hat trick and the Red Wings celebrated
their home opener with a 4-1 victory over the visiting St. Louis
Blues. The game was delayed for 45 minutes as the Red Wings raised
their Stanley Cup banner at the Joe Louis arena. On hand for the
ceremony was head coach Scotty Bowman, who is recovering from heart
and knee surgery. Earlier that day it was announced that he would
return because he was cleared doctors to coach again in the NHL. A
huge roar went up when injured defenseman Vladimir Konstantinov was
wheeled onto the ice.
Shanahan scored his 11th career hat trick. He has four goals after
three games thus far in the young season. Sergei Fedorov also
scored and captain Steve Yzerman had three assists for the two-time
defending NHL champions.
Yzerman said the pregame festivities and Bowman's appearance gave
him a big lift. But it didn't last.
"That's good to get you jump started," Yzerman said. "But after the
first period, you have nothing left. You're thinking, 'Oh, no!' "
But the Wings had enough to hold off their rivals and seal the
victory despite having both teams shoot 25 shots on net.
CALGARY
Brendan Shanahan scored his fifth goal of the season and Chris
Osgood stopped 34 shots for his 21st career shutout as the Red
Wings beat the Calgary Flames, 2-0. Steve Yzerman and Darren
McCarty assisted on Shanahan's third-period goal. That line is hot
of late and clicking very well.
"I played with Mac and Stevie when I first got here, then we got to
the playoffs and went with different lines," Shanahan said. "All
three of us can muck and grind and all three of us are threats to
shoot, as well, so it's a good combination."
Mathieu Dandenault also scored his first goal in 35 regular-season
games. The Wings have won four straight since a season-opening loss
at Toronto. Goalie Chris Osgood is 12-4-4 with three shutouts in
his career against Calgary and has allowed only five goals in four
starts this season.
"I've felt good since the season started," Osgood said. "I'm glad
we've started against teams we either have rivalries with or teams
that play us tough. Calgary played us very tough tonight and we had
to play a solid game to beat them." The Flames outshot the Wings
34-28.
NASHVILLE
A firing squad or just plain fun? Mike Dunham faced an impressive 57
shots by the Red Wings. The Red Wings won 5-2 in the shooting
barrage. The Wings had 27 shots in the second period, alone.
Dougie Brown and Darren McCarty each scored two goals for the Red
Wings in the win. Brendan Shanahan, who is basically on fire,
scored his sixth goal in five games for the Red Wings.
Brown broke a 1-1 tie by converting a centering pass from Tomas
Holmstrom 3:19 into the third period. McCarty made it 3-1 just 49
seconds later when he fired a pass from Steve Yzerman past Dunham
for his second score of the night. Brown added another goal -- the
15,000th in franchise history -- with 3:21 remaining.
Chris Osgood made just 13 saves against the Predators.
TORONTO
The return of Scotty Bowman behind the Wings bench didn't help as
the Toronto Maple Leafs beat the Red Wings for the second time this
season is as many games. The loss snapped a four-game winning
streak.
"It's not like a player," said Bowman, who has been plagued by
health problems. "A player can go out on the ice and do stuff.
It's not like you're going to pull a rabbit out of a hat." It was
the first time the Red Wings played with Bowman behind the bench
this season.
Despite the loss, it was a special night at Joe Louis Arena from the
moment Bowman walked out to his place behind the bench. The fans
began cheering as soon as he strolled out of the tunnel and soon
they were all on their feet cheering. "I noticed the crowd," said
Bowman, who has won 1,057 games and eight Stanley Cups. "I didn't
expect that. It was a nice gesture, for sure."
Brendan Shanahan scored again, extending his goal-scoring streak to
five games. Igor Larionov and Martin Lapointe also scored.
LaPointe's goal was the 50th of his career. Kevin Hodson made his
season debut in goal facing 27 shots.
MONTREAL
Steve Yzerman's first goal of the season was all the Wings needed to
beat their long time rival Montreal Canadiens, 3-0. The Yzerman goal
opened the door for Detroit as Larry Murphy then beat Thibault from
the red line at 16:49 and Marty Lapointe added a goal at 18:35.
Chris Osgood made 18 saves for his second shutout of the season and
the 22nd of his brilliant career.
The Wings outshot the Habs 25-18 in the win. Both teams played
tight defensive hockey, with Montreal using at one point three
defensemen against the top line of Shanahan, Yzerman and Darren
McCarty. The Wings scored all three goals within 10 minutes of the
third period in the defensive battle. Steve Yzerman needs six
points to pass his childhood idol Bryan Trottier for 10th on the
all-time scoring list. Very impressive company indeed.
Rumormill: Rumors have the Wing shopping defensemen Aaron Ward
around. And the word is out that Kevin Hodson can be had for a
third-round pick.
