Saturday, January 21, 2012

Bertuzzi spins Wings to win

GLENDALE, Arizona — Todd Bertuzzi — all bruising 191-cm, 104-km — turned figure skater in front of the Phoenix net with a spinning move that would have earned him a "10" and provided the Detroit Red Wings with their fifth win in a row.

News photoPinned in: Winnipeg's Bryan Little (left) vies for the puck with Buffalo's Mike Weber in the second-period on Thursday night. The Jets beat the Sabres 4-1. AP

Bertuzzi, who scored in regulation, spun in front of goalie Mike Smith, then with a backhand tap, knocked the puck into the net to give Detroit a 3-2 victory Thursday night.

Bertuzzi said he had been talking with teammate Danny Cleary before taking to the ice in the shootout. Cleary knew about the spin move.

"He told me it was probably time to break it out," Bertuzzi said.

The finesse move finished a smashmouth game, the third time in Detroit's winning streak that a contest has gone to a shootout. Two have been against Phoenix by identical scores.

"It was one of those gritty games where there was a lot of hitting," Bertuzzi said. "Chicago keeps winning and so does St. Louis. In order to stay in the race, you've got to win."

Ian White also scored for the NHL-leading Red Wings, and Pavel Datsyuk and Johan Franzen each had a pair of assists.

Gilbert Brule scored his second goal in the five games since Phoenix claimed him off waivers from Edmonton. Raffi Torres scored the other goal for the Coyotes.

Kyle Chipchura had two assists for Phoenix, which was coming off a 6-2 loss at Anaheim on Wednesday night. Coyotes coach Dave Tippett praised his team's effort, especially since it had played the previous night and lost Daymond Langkow after he took a puck to the face in the opening minute of the game.

"The circumstances that our team was in, with Detroit sitting here waiting for us last night and us playing a hard game in Anaheim," Tippett said, "I thought our team group gave everything they had, they have gave everything and more."

Senators 4, Sharks 1

In San Jose, Colin Greening scored twice and Craig Anderson made 36 saves in Ottawa's first victory in San Jose in eight years.

Islanders 4, Fluers 1

In Philadelphia, Evgeni Nabokov made 40 saves, and Josh Bailey, Matt Moulson, Mark Streit and Michael Grabner scored to help New York snap a 13-game losing streak in Philadelphia.

Bruins 4, Devils 1

In Newark, New Jersey, Nathan Horton and Gregory Campbell scored in a 35-second span in a four-goal third period that carried Boston past the Devils.

Penguins 4, Rangers 1

In New York, Richard Park scored the go-ahead goal 2:23 into the third period, Evgeni Malkin padded the lead with two, and Marc-Andre Fleury made 30 saves in Pittsburgh's victory over the Rangers.

Jets 4, Sabres 1

In Winnipeg, Ondrej Pavelec made 25 saves and the Jets extended Buffalo's franchise-record road losing streak to 11 games.

Maples Leafs 4, Wild 1

In Toronto, Phil Kessel scored his team-leading 25th goal, and Joffrey Lupul had three assists for the Maple Leafs.

Predators 3, Blue Jackets 0

In Columbus, Pekka Rinne made 38 saves — 18 in the third period — for his fourth shutout of the season, and Martin Erat had a goal and an assist in a 2:03 span in the second period for Nashville.

Flames 2, Kings 1 (SO)

In Los Angeles, Jarome Iginla scored the tying goal on a power play in the second period, Olli Jokinen and Michael Cammalleri connected on Calgary's first two shots in a shootout, and the Flames ended a six-game road losing streak.

Blues 1, Oilers 0

In St. Louis, Jaroslav Halak made 15 saves for his second straight shutout, and Alex Pietrangelo scored with 5:14 left.


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