FLORIDA
Tomas "Homer" Holmstrom scored two power-play goals and defenseman
Nicklas Lidstrom had a goal and two assists as the Red Wings beat
the Florida Panthers in a landslide in Florida, 7-2.
Sergei Fedorov, Darren McCarty, Steve Yzerman and Kirk Maltby also
scored as the Red Wings (6-2-0) won for the second time in three
games since Scotty Bowman returned as coach. The Red Wings' seven
goals were a season high.
"We got some breaks, got some early tips and there was nothing Sean
Burke could do," said Detroit's Brendan Shanahan, who had three
assists. "That was a tough start for him, but it was good for us."
Burke was pulled after just 16:08, having given up three goals on
six shots. Kirk McLean was only slightly better, as the Wings added
to their lead to 6-0 by midway through the second period. It seemed
as though every shot was going in for the Wings at some point.
Tonight the breaks belonged to the Red Wings.
"The Panthers did not play as bad as the score looked," Bowman said
diplomatically. "We capitalized in front of the net. It seemed like
everything we tipped went right in the corner."
Sergei Fedorov's goal was the 250th of his career.
ST. LOUIS
A penalty shot midway in the third period made by left wing Geoff
Courtnall midway through the third period proved to be the
game-winner as the St. Louis Blues posted a 3-1 victory over the
Red Wings.
Courtnall broke free of the Detroit defense after a feed from pass
Scott Young and was honing down on goalie Chris Osgood when Aaron
Ward began hooking him to throw him off. Courtnall nearly scored
anyway with a shot that banged off the right goal post.
Red Wings associate coach Barry Smith said Courtnall was a good
actor.
"Personally, I thought he really embellished it by diving, and he
actually hit the post," Smith said. "So, it wasn't like not getting
a shot. It was a gimme call and that hurt."
The Red Wings have eliminated the Blues in the playoffs the last
three seasons and beat them three times in the Kiel Center last
May. This was their first time in St. Louis since finishing off the
Blues in six games in the conference semifinals with a 6-1 victory.
So to the Blues this was a big game. They had something to prove to
themselves and to their fans with the victory.
Dougie Brown got his fourth goal for of the season for the Wings.
DALLAS
New Dallas Star sniper Brett Hull scored two goals to lead his team
to a 3-2 victory over their Western Conference rivals, the Red
Wings. The game marked the first meeting between last season's
Western Conference finalists, a series won by the Wings in six
games en route to their second straight Stanley Cup. The victory
over the Red Wings may provide the Stars with an early
psychological edge because, all in all, the game meant more to the
Stars.
The Red Wings just missed out on sending the game into overtime in
the final seconds when Nicklas Lidstrom's 30-foot shot hit the
left post. Kirk Maltby's tally and Steve Yzerman's power-play goal
gave Detroit a 2-0 lead in the first period.
During an altercation around the Wings crease a little skirmish
broke out. It was instigated by Chris Osgood on a melding Pat
Verbeek. Ed Belfour skated to center ice and had some choice words
for Ozzie. Ozzie proceeded to motion with two fingers toward
Belfour symbolizing the Red Wings two Stanley Cup victories.
The next game, which will be in Detroit on Nov. 13, should be very
interesting.
CALGARY
Cory Stillman scored two goals as the Calgary Flames beat the Wings
5-2 Tuesday night, handing the Red Wings their third straight loss.
The Flames were 0-6-2 against the Red Wings since last beating them
Oct. 11, 1996.
Tomas Holmstrom had a goal and an assist and Marty Lapointe added a
goal for the Red Wings, who are 2- 4 since coach Scotty Bowman
returned to the bench Oct. 23. They've lost three straight games
for the first time since the final three games of last season.
"It's just frustrating because that doesn't happen here," winger
Darren McCarty said. "Two times in a row doesn't happen often here.
We just have to get back together tomorrow and practice and prepare
to win some games on the road."
Calgary was outshot 47-26 but went 3-for-5 on the power play and
also scored a shorthanded goal against Red Wings goalie Chris
Osgood. Detroit, meanwhile, was just 1-for-10 with the extra
attacker.
"Three power play goals? That's as many as we've allowed all year,"
Bowman said. "If you can't get ahead, you can't play you're own
game."
The Wings could never muster enough of an attempt to make a
comeback.
PHOENIX
Keith Tkachuk scored his sixth goal and Detroit native Jim Cummins
had his first goal in 90 games as Phoenix won its fourth straight,
beating the slumping Red Wings, 3-1.
"It's a measuring stick to play the best team in hockey and we went
out and got the job done," Tkachuk said. "We're sick of being a
below average hockey team. We've got to make the step and why not
do it this year?"
It was the fourth consecutive defeat for the two time defending
Stanley Cup champion Red Wings, who are 2-5-0 since starting the
season 4-1-0. They are not playing like defending champions. The
Wings seem to be going through the motions and not catching any
breaks as of late.
Detroit last lost four games in a row back n October 1993 when it
was coach Scotty Bowman's first month on the job.
"Not everyone on this team is feeling good about their game right
now," said forward Brendan Shanahan, who played in his 800th NHL
game.
Nicklas Lidstrom cut Detroit's deficit to 2-1 at 6:36 of the second
period on a power-play slap shot from the blue line. It was the
first meeting of the teams since the first round of the playoffs,
which the Red Wings won in six games, and it had a playoff-type
intensity with scrums and very chippy play.
The Wings are struggling as of late, but there is no urgent panic.
Losing this often is not something this team is used to. But it
should me a measure of fortitude on how they pull themselves
together and mount a comeback.
ANAHEIM
Brendan Shanahan scored the go-ahead goal twice in the third period
for the Red Wings and set up a second period goal by captain Steve
Yzerman. Shanny got the winning goal as Igor Larionov's wrist shot
from the top of the left circle caromed off Shanahan's leg and past
Guy Hebert with 5:49 remaining. Shanny was clearly in the crease
but was pushed in by a Ducks defensemen, thus solidifying the goal.
"You have to win however you can," Shanahan said. "When the game was
tied, we responded."
Duck forward Tomas Sandstrom who had scored earlier, left the game
with about nine minutes remaining in the second period after he was
checked into the boards by Kirk Maltby and broke his left wrist. He
is expected to miss four to six weeks. It was a legal check by
Maltby.
Shanahan broke a 1-1 tie with his eighth goal, converting Larionov's
pass from behind the net with 10:17 left in the third. Yzerman, who
has scored all four of his goals on the road, pulled the Red Wings
into a 1-1 tie on a power play at 3:03 of the second period when he
lifted a sweet pass from Shanahan from the top of the right circle.
The Wings looked good and finally snapped their four-game winless
streak.
