Canucks end Wings' NHL-record home win streak

[February 24, 2012]  DETROIT (AP) -- The Detroit Red Wings took advantage of the shootout to win three times during their NHL-record, 23-game home winning streak.

Detroit's good fortune in the one-on-one duels ran out and its run ended against the Vancouver Canucks.

Alex Burrows scored the only goal in a shootout, which was made possible when Daniel Sedin scored his second goal of the game with 15.4 seconds left in regulation, to lift Vancouver to a 4-3 win over the Red Wings to snap their streak that lasted three-plus months.

"It's disappointing it had to end like this," Detroit's Justin Abdelkader said.

Detroit hadn't lost at Joe Louis Arena since Nov. 3 against Calgary, breaking the previous single-season mark of 20 shared by the 1929-30 Boston Bruins and 1975-76 Philadelphia Flyers.

"It's nice that we're the team that ended the streak," said Burrows, who lifted a backhander over Jimmy Howard when he went low. "It's remarkable to win that many games in a row on home ice."

The Red Wings extended their run at home with three wins in shootouts -- a way to break ties that wasn't possible before the 2005-06 season -- but their coach said that didn't diminish the feat.

"I don't care what era, it was just a real good run for the Red Wings that set us up in a good situation playoff-wise," Mike Babcock said.

The NHL-leading Red Wings hold a one-point lead over Vancouver in the Western Conference. The Canucks have won a league-high 21 games on the road this season.

A sold-out crowd stood during the shootout, which started with Roberto Luongo stopping Jiri Hudler's shot and Howard going low to smother David Booth's attempt.

Henrik Zetterberg missed the net on Detroit's second attempt and Alexander Edler was denied on the ensuing opportunity.

Todd Bertuzzi, who signed a two-year extension with the Red Wings earlier in the day, couldn't put his team ahead and Burrows took advantage of a chance to end the game -- and the streak.

"It was an intense game with a playoff atmosphere," Luongo said.

Luongo made 33 saves and Howard had 40.

Detroit was 16 seconds from getting the win in regulation, but the Canucks pulled Luongo to have an extra skater in the Red Wings' end for a faceoff.

On the next sequence, Sedin took a slap shot from the slot that Howard never saw after his teammates failed to clear the puck when it was behind the net.

"We wanted to prove we could beat them on the road," Sedin said. "It was a good pass and a good screen in front of the goalie."

Abdelkader scored with 6:14 left in the third period to give Detroit a 3-2 lead -- 20 seconds after Vancouver's Cody Hodgson tied the game.

Newly acquired defenseman Kyle Quincey scored to put Detroit ahead 6:05 into the third period and Darren Helm had a goal 11:16 into the game to give the Red Wings a 1-0 lead.

The Canucks refused to let the Red Wings get comfortable with the lead all night.

Sedin tied it at 1 at 13:34 of the second and Hodgson tied it again, getting credit for a goal that went in off the right skate of Detroit defenseman Niklas Kronwall.

Detroit led 1-0 after the first period despite being outplayed.

Vancouver outshot the Red Wings 17-5 in the first, but defenseman Kevin Bieksa had the puck poked away by Helm and his fluttering wrist shot got past Luongo at 11:16.

Detroit didn't do much with three power plays in the first, going scoreless and getting only one shot combined with an extra skater.

"We got skated into the ground in the first period," Babcock said. "They played better for longer than us and they won the game."

The Red Wings looked out of sync, missing playmaking center Pavel Datsyuk for a second game. Datsyuk, the team's leading scorer, is expected to be out for two weeks after having right knee surgery Tuesday.

"The best player in the world, any time he goes out, you're going to miss him," Abdelkader said. "It's a big void."

Sedin tied the game at 1 at 13:34 of the second.

Detroit outshot the Canucks 15-8 in the second period, but had nothing to show for it.

The Red Wings created more chances in the third period, especially when Abdelkader swiped at a puck in the crease that Luongo didn't cover, but they couldn't find a way to win again in the Motor City.

"For us to come in here and play well and show that we can beat them means a lot," Burrows said. "But there's a lot of work ahead, and if we face them in the playoffs, it will start 0-0."

NOTES: Bertuzzi, a former Canucks forward, signed a two-year deal worth just more than $4 million. ... Vancouver tied the series at 2 in the final scheduled game against Detroit. ... Quincey played in the first game of his second stint with the Red Wings, who drafted him in 2003. They acquired Quincey for a first-round pick and prospect Sebastien Piche from Tampa Bay on Tuesday in a three-team trade with Colorado.

[Associated Press; By LARRY LAGE]

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