After suffering an 8-2 loss on Saturday, the Detroit Red Wings (44-15-8) bounced back with a 3-2 win over the Phoenix Coyotes (28-33-6) in overtime at Joe Louis Arena on Tuesday night. The Coyotes have now lost six of their past seven games. For a look at the game from the Phoenix perspective, be sure to check out our SBN counterpart at Five for Howling.
Valtteri Filppula got the Wings on the board quickly with a marker just 1:18 into the opening period. Linemate Johan Franzen made a feed from the right faceoff circle to Filppula, who was rushing up the left circle. Filppula's shot beat Coyotes' goaltender Ilya Bryzgalov just above his blocker for his ninth goal of the season.
Phoenix responded with a goal of their own at 16:13 in the first stanza. Both teams were then held scoreless in spite of Detroit's 14 shots during the middle frame, starting the third period in a 1-1 tie.
The Wings scored on their only power-play opportunity of the evening when defenseman Brian Rafalski snapped a wrist shot from the left faceoff dot. Pavel Datsyuk and Henrik Zetterberg earned the assists on the tally.
The Coyotes posted the equalizer at 11:51 on a man advantage of their own. Phoenix captain Shane Doan scored his 25th goal of the season, fitting since it was his 950th game with the franchise.
Strong saves by both Bryzgalov and Ty Conklin kept the game even at two goals apiece, sending the game into overtime. The Wings scored on their third shot 3:35 in the extra period. Filppula won a key faceoff in the Coyotes' zone, sending the puck back to Brad Stuart stationed at the point. Stuart pushed the puck forward to Franzen, who made a move atop the right faceoff circle before firing the puck from the slot. Both Franzen and Filppula earned their second offensive point of the night on the play.
Christy's Red Wing of the Game: Johan Franzen
The Wings will remain at home as they host the Calgary Flames on Thursday evening at the Joe in what should be an exciting game between these two division leaders.