Red Wings wheel into Oil Country

Detroit Red Wings vs Edmonton Oilers 4-0 (0-0, 3-0, 1-0)

Edmonton's machinery was injected with some fresh oil in form of rested goaltender Jonas Hiller in this game. The Wings were on top of the Central Division with a 28-16-4 record, well ahead of their non-playoff dwelling divisonal competition.

The Oilers had their work cut out for them in the first, as Detroit put up massive fire on Hiller, whose 'rest' had apparently been used to grease up both glove and blocker, because the rebounds were flying around. Only a dilligent and swift defense prevented the Wings from taking the lead in the first. A few Oilers counter-attacks produced some decent shots, but nothing of major threat.

The Wings kept the Oilers at stick's length in the second too, continuing to fire away at Hiller at every chance. When they finally broke through, from a fine Zetterberg snipe, they led the shot statistic by 21 to 8. Rafalski added another power play marker a minute from time, before Franzén led daggered Edmonton's chances with a SH goal just before the second intermission. The home team was left bleeding, crippled by a lethal Wings side.

Just as Detroit seemed to relent temporarily, Nolan Yonkman performed severe automutilation by taking a double minor for high sticking. The Wings managed to put up a 4th goal before the game ended, defeating the Oilers comfortably.

Post game: "I think the media will blame our special teams, but it was not about PP or PK units" stated head coach Constantine and elaborated: "We were simply way too soft, slow and timid, allowing them to dictate play. The penalties were just a result of lack of effort, there is little you on the PK when you're that bad 5 on 5".


Scoreboard
1st Period:
DET - Zetterberg (Rafalski) PP
DET - Rafalski (Franzen, Kronwall) PP
DET - Franzén (Datsyuk, Stuart) SH

2nd Period:
-
3rd Period:
DET - Datsyuk (Franzén, Rafalski) PP


Injuries/Misconducts/Etc.
-

Lines:
Penner - Gagner - Hemsky
Cogliano - Laich - O'Sullivan
Moore - Krysanov - Skille
Moreau - Falardeau - O'Marra

Babchuk - Visnovsky
Smid - Gilbert
Grebeshkov - Yonkman

Hiller
(Khabibulin)