Red-hot Wings

Detroit keeps hot streak going without Yzerman

The Coyotes' Brian Boucher gave up three goals in the second period, including this one on the power play. AP

DETROIT (AP) -- The Detroit Red Wings were only a one-line hockey team Sunday night, and that was good enough.

Pavel Datsyuk had two goals and two assists for a career-high four points and he and linemates Brett Hull and Henrik Zetterberg combined for nine points as Detroit beat the Phoenix Coyotes 5-2 without captain Steve Yzerman.

The Red Wings won their eighth in nine games (8-0-0-1) despite missing Yzerman. He played his first two games of the season this week after being out since offseason knee surgery. Yzerman is expected to play Monday at Columbus. He was held out against Phoenix because the Red Wings don't want him to play on consecutive days.

Phoenix lost for just the second time in nine games (6-2-1).

Hull added a goal and two assists, Zetterberg had a goal and an assist as the line accounted for four goals. Nicklas Lidstrom also scored for the Red Wings and had an assist.

"Pavel was very good, the whole line was good," Detroit coach Dave Lewis said. "They have such a chemistry about themselves. They know where each other is."

Teppo Numminen and Drake Berehowsky scored the Coyotes' goals.

The Red Wings led 3-1 after four goals were scored in the second period. Datsyuk, Hull and Zetterberg scored for Detroit.

Hull made it 1-0 with 9:20 left in the period on a one-timed slap shot from the high slot that beat Brian Boucher between his pads. It came off a feed from Datsyuk.

But Phoenix tied it just 1:08 later when Numminen's slap shot from the point beat Curtis Joseph high to the glove side.

Datsyuk put a cross-crease pass from Hull into the open side of the net with 6:57 left to put Detroit up 2-1. And with 2:17 left, Zetterberg scored a power-play goal from the bottom of the right circle after a give-and-go play with Datsyuk.

"We've played with each other for a while now," said Zetterberg, who has three goals and an assist in his last two games. "You start to learn where Pavel is and where Hully is."

Hull has six goals and 12 assists in the last nine games and Datsyuk has four goals and 10 assists in the last nine games.

"We wanted to keep them quiet in the first period. We came out in good shape in the first period," Phoenix coach Bobby Francis said. "And then they started to play, but we couldn't keep up with them."

Datsyuk scored his second goal on a breakaway 5:37 into the third period after a give-and-go with Hull. Lidstrom scored at 6:58 to make it 5-1.

Berehowsky got his goal at 8:54 of the third period.

While most talked about Datsyuk, Boucher was more impressed by Hull.

"I thought he was the best player on the ice," Boucher said. "He's a scorer, but I think he's an underrated passer. I don't think people give him enough credit for the type of plays he makes passing the puck."

Notes: Phoenix D Paul Mara missed the game because of a shoulder sprain. ... Detroit D Chris Chelios limped off with a little more than five minutes left in the second period after a check from Daymond Langkow. He didn't return. Lewis said Chelios is day-to-day and that he will make the trip to Columbus. ... Detroit C Sergei Fedorov has a 10-game point streak (4 goals, 12 assists). ... Detroit D Nicklas Lidstrom is plus-12 in his last four games.

 

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