Red Wings fall in 5-3 loss to Flames

After allowing eight goals twice in a span of a week, the Detroit Red Wings (48-16-9) went on a four-game winning streak thanks to great goaltending, defense and offense. Unfortunately, the winning streak came to an end on Monday night in a 5-3 loss to the Calgary Flames (42-24-6). The confidence that the Wings' fans had regained over the past week was sent crumbling down after goaltender Chris Osgood allowed three soft goals on just 14 shots. The Wings clawed back into the game, eventually making it a 4-3 game before Craig Conroy's empty-netter goal with 28 seconds remaining in the game.

Calgary had a 3-0 lead halfway through the game, but Pavel Datsyuk brought the game within two goals at 17:35 in the second period. The goal was his 30th of the season, marking the third time in his career that he has reached the 30-goal plateau. Datsyuk picked up a loose rebound from a Johan Franzen shot and chipped it into the net.

At 10:22 in the final frame, Franzen fired a rocket from the slot that surprised Flames' goaltender Miikka Kiprusoff as the puck went flying between defenseman Jordan Leopold’s legs so Kipper did not really see the shot. The puck hit the right goal post before bouncing into the back of the net.

Jiri Hudler had the goal of the night for Detroit at 13:03 in the third. Huds beat defenseman Dion Phaneuf with a slick move to give him room to wrist a shot that ended up beating Kiprusoff.

Our SBN counterpart has more on the game from a Flames' perspective.

Christy's Red Wing of the Game: Johan Franzen

Johan Franzen

#93 / Center / Detroit Red Wings

Height: 6-3

Weight: 220

Born: Dec 23, 1979

The Wings stayed in Alberta, but headed to Edmonton after the game to take on the Oilers on Tuesday night.