Howard's 51 Saves Helps Wings Beat Kings 2-1

by joehass on Jan 8, 2010 12:44 AM CST in Game Recaps

For a team that had given up 37 or more shots in a game once this season, giving up 37 through two periods looked brutal.

Yet, despite a stellar performance, Jimmy Howard letting a Ryan Smyth deflection past him with 4:22 left in regulation seemed to be an even bigger dagger into the hearts of the Detroit Red Wings.

But a brilliant play by Darren Helm with just 18 seconds left restored all that's right with the Red Wings world, allowing them to escape from Los Angeles with two points in regulation with a 2-1 win over the Kings.

Indeed, a Detroit team that has struggled with offense did so again tonight, trying to keep a Dan Cleary goal be the margin of difference.

Cleary, who missed 12 games with an injury, returned to the lineup tonight along with Henrik Zetterberg.

The Wings clearly looked out of sorts on multiple levels tonight, with five penalties (including a pair on perennial Lady Bing candidate Pavel Datsyuk) and only 24 shots.

But just after a penalty to Drew Doughty expired, Valtteri Filppula's shot in front of Jonathan Quick went through his legs and across the crease. Cleary was sitting on the other side, and had one of the easier goals of his life, putting it in from about 18 inches. Considering Cleary has been out for 12 games, he was sharp in earning his eighth goal of the season.

After a scoreless second period, Dustin Brown took advantage of a Todd Bertuzzi penalty to put a puck on the net. It went wide, but Smyth had the right spot to swat the puck out of the air on the 51st shot of the night for the Kings. It was Smyth's 13th of the season, with Jarret Stoll picking up the other assist.

The Kings would have only one more shot. With just 18 seconds remaining in regulation, Helm skated towards Quick and put the puck between Quick and the goal post to get his seventh goal of the season.

The Red Wings head to San Jose Saturday night to face the Sharks.

Player Of The Game: Jimmy Howard. His one goal allowed was on a power play. He faced 52 shots, made a number of beautiful saves, and further cemented his spot as the number one goaltender on this team.

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Jimmy Howard

So money and he doesn’t even know it.

I root for the Tigers, Pistons, Red Wings and yes, the Lions.
www.twitter.com/zajareich

by ReichardZ on Jan 8, 2010 11:21 AM CST reply actions

First, love that movie.
Second, I do have to say he impressed me like crazy last night. He was all over the place. There was a penalty killing in the second period where he was dominating the goal in a way Detroit use to be accustom to! I’m glad to see he wore his big boy pants last night.

by Kalyn88 on Jan 8, 2010 12:02 PM CST up reply actions

Not that this is meaningful, but

the Red Wings moved up a bit:
GF/game from 25th to 24th
GA/game from 9th to 8th
Pts/game (away) from 16th to 14th

and with 50 points in 43 games, another 100 point season is definitely possible. only need 28 wins for 50 again too (only!).

I’ll state the obvious here: the Red Wings cannot play this way on Saturday night or they won’t have even the slim chance they had last night.

by bleep bloop on Jan 8, 2010 12:07 PM CST reply actions

much much much needed win

with everybody continuing to win in the west minus the Avs we really really needed this one…especially in a game we did not deserve to win…good win guys!

TULO = 2010 MVP!

LETS GO WINGS!

by TuLoRocks2008 on Jan 8, 2010 12:10 PM CST reply actions

This is over at A2Y

Love it.

by Brobz on Jan 8, 2010 1:06 PM CST reply actions 4 recs

haha rec'd

TULO = 2010 MVP!

LETS GO WINGS!

by TuLoRocks2008 on Jan 8, 2010 1:11 PM CST up reply actions

Lol. Wow.

by Kalyn88 on Jan 8, 2010 3:22 PM CST up reply actions

Bertuzzi Getting the Iverson Treatment

David Stern gave an order NBA officials that it was alright with him if the officials made Allen Iverson’s pay for berating the NBA officials. The same way Bettman is santioning the preferential treatment for Phoenix, LA, Colorado and Nashville. The same way Bettman os trying to take points away from the Redwings with mysterious no-goal calls and penalty calls against the Redwings and Ducks during games. The same way certain players are being targeted by the Referee’s see Brad “Ijust placed a Bet” Watson and Todd “Pariah of the NHL” Bertuzzi!!!

by Marcmargolis on Jan 8, 2010 1:46 PM CST reply actions

I thought I read that a stipulation of Bertuzzi being allowed to play in the NHL, he would be assessed a minor penalty 75% of the time he made contact with an opponent.

Then the Ducks are the Flyers of the West. They have the reputation, thus get called for tons of penalties. Many are deserved, like when Getzlaf and Perry are just being stupid… but many are just “reputation” calls. Just like all the crap Homer has to deal with. It seemed for a long time there was a rule that it was not possible for Holmstrom to draw a minor penalty unless a diving call was also made. Also 20% of Red Wing goals, in which Holmstrom is in front of the goalie, must be disallowed for no reason.

by dewman8810 on Jan 8, 2010 2:47 PM CST up reply actions

If there was any doubt at all left in the minds of people as to who the man between the pipes for the Wings now is, Howard put them to rest last night. He was damn near perfect. I love you, Ozzy, and I will be the first writing Illitch about getting your number retired in a few years, but Howard’s our goalie now.

Out of curiosity, does anyone know who the top rookies are this year? I know Duchene is having a good year in Colorado, is there anyone else? Howard could be in the running for the Calder if he keeps this up and backstops us to the playoffs.

by Apocalyptic0n3 on Jan 8, 2010 3:03 PM CST reply actions

Tuukka Rask

I know Rask has the league leading GAA for goalies. He’s a guy that spent some time in the Maple Leafs organization i think but found a home when ManFran left Boston. I think Rask has a strong case for Calder in Boston but he’s going to have to play more games. He’s played i think 16 or 17 compared to Howie’s 25. Howie’s GAA is creeping down so it’ll be interesting down the stretch.

Winging It In Motown

by Casey Richey on Jan 8, 2010 3:46 PM CST up reply actions

Ha...

I obsess over Jimmah’s GAA going down. And I have no idea why! Its a small consolation to get me through this crazy season I guess. :)

by LolaLemon51 on Jan 8, 2010 4:27 PM CST up reply actions

Rask stands little chance unless Thomas falters majorly. Tim Thomas won the Vezina last year and is the top dog in Boston. I don’t see Rask getting more than 30 starts, surely not enough to make a case for the Calder.

by Apocalyptic0n3 on Jan 9, 2010 12:12 AM CST up reply actions

I heard a writer from the USA Today talking that his picks for the Calder so far are Tyler Myers of Buffalo, John Tavares, and Jimmy Howard. In that order. He also said with a strong second half, Jimmy Howard could easily take it.

by dewman8810 on Jan 8, 2010 5:55 PM CST up reply actions