Short-handed studs

Wings' star-studded defensemen key great penalty kill

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) -- It's no mystery why the Detroit Red Wings play so well when shorthanded.

Consider who is on the ice: two of the league's best defensemen in Nicklas Lidstrom and Chris Chelios, two elite two-way forwards in Steve Yzerman and Sergei Fedorov and one of the great goalies in Dominik Hasek.

Three Stars      CNNSI.com's Jon A. Dolezar gives you his three stars of Game 4.  Analysis and Opinion  • Darren Eliot: Wings impose will More Stories  • Game 4: Recap | Summary • 'Canes silent in possible home finale • Larionov, Hull oldies but goodies • Hull scores 100th career playoff goal • Notes: Westlund takes five stitches • Line Analysis: Hurricanes | Wings • Goalie Analysis: Irbe | Hasek   Game 4 Reaction Video Click the image to launch the clip The Wings need only one more win to claim the Stanley Cup, and they're not changing their game plan at all. Play Video After scoring his 100th career playoff goal, Brett Hull assesses his feat. Play Video Paul Maurice expresses his disappointment with Carolina's Game 4 play. Play Video Instant Poll  Which Red Wings team looked the most dominant? 1997 (beat Flyers 4-0) 1998 (beat Capitals 4-0) 2002 (lead 'Canes 3-1) View Results Team Store  • Get your Carolina Hurricanes gear • Buy Detroit Red Wings souvenirs

Lidstrom said if he had to save his life by preventing a power-play goal, he could not pick a better group.

"They're pretty good to be out there killing with," Lidstrom said. "We know where we're supposed to be and we keep our positions."

The Hurricanes scored a power-play goal en route to winning Game 1, the only one the Red Wings have allowed in the last 35 shorthanded situations. Since then, Detroit has killed 18 straight penalties and won three consecutive games to take control of the Stanley Cup finals.

The Red Wings won 3-0 on Monday night and can win their 10th Stanley Cup -- and third since 1997 -- with a win in Game 5 on Thursday night at home.

"We realize how close we are," Detroit's Kris Draper said. "We've worked really hard to put ourselves in this situation and we want to take advantage of that."

Detroit's talent and depth allows it to be aggressive at times when it is killing penalties.

When the Red Wings corral a loose puck, they are not satisfied with merely clearing it, as most teams are.

They carry the puck and make crisp passes -- even if they're across the ice or backward -- to create scoring opportunities. Detroit has scored seven shorthanded goals in the playoffs while the rest of the league has combined for six.

Luck, not skill, played a part in helping Detroit stay successful when down a man on one play Monday night.

Bret Hedican's rebound deflected to Jeff O'Neill, who immediately directed it across the crease to Ron Francis before Hasek could react, leaving the right side of the net open.

But Francis' one-timer deflected off the left post and bounced harmlessly into the crease -- even though the goal horn momentarily sounded -- and a surprised and relieved Hasek covered it up.

"If they get the goal there, the momentum goes their way," Lidstrom said. "But we were able to kill that one off and we killed another one, too. I thought that really helped us win this game."

 

Related information

Stories

CNNSI.com's Darren Eliot: 'Canes didn't look mentally sharp Notebook: Hurricanes' Westlund takes five stitches in Game 4 Three Stars: Hasek continues remarkable postseason run Red Wings' Larionov, Hull are oldies but goodies Hurricanes might have played last game of season at loud ESA Wings blank 'Canes 3-0 to close in on Stanley Cup

Multimedia

Visit Video Plus for the latest audio and video