Devils stifle Wings attack

Red Wings 1 Devils 2

Three goals scored in sixty minutes with less than 50 combined shots on goal? What was this, Game One of the 1995 Stanley Cup Finals?

(Getty Images)

The Wings haven’t been scoring enough lately.

Ever since they walloped the Blue Jackets 7-2 on March 26, they’ve been averaging less than a goal and a half scored per game. That ain’t gonna cut it in this league. Not surprisingly, they’ve gone 2-3 over that stretch, with both wins coming via the shootout.

The tonic for the Wings offensive ailments could come in the form of division rival Chicago on Saturday afternoon. The Wings need a win, but even more than that they need some goals to go into the playoffs with some confidence. Chicago is among the worst teams in the NHL at keeping the puck out of it’s own net, so the opportunity will be there for Detroit to snap out of it’s funk.

As for the game against the Devils, Jiri Hudler’s magnificent pass to an uncovered Tomas Holmstrom accounted for the Wings lone goal.

The Devils sandwiched goals by Alexei Ponikarovsky and Petr Sykora around that tally. Sykora, you may recall, called his shot ahead of potting the Game 5 winner in 2008, in triple overtime no less, against the Wings.

Saturday afternoon the Hawks will be looking to pass the Wings for fifth place in the conference and a first round date with the Nashville Predators.

The Off Wing View’s Three Stars

3. Alexei Ponikarovsky

2. Jiri Hudler

1. Martin Brodeur