Wings stop Canucks in OT, lose Pavel Datsyuk
DETROIT -- The Red Wings won an important game but lost an important player.
Henrik Zetterberg's second goal of the night, at 2:59 of overtime, gave the Red Wings a dramatic and entertaining 5-4 victory over Vancouver.
Zetterberg's shot from the circle got past goalie Roberto Luongo, who made 40 saves but wasn't his usual sturdy self.
But the Wings also lost Zetterberg's partner in offensive wizardry Pavel Datsyuk to four weeks because of a broken bone in his right hand.
"He has a broken hand or wrist or something like that," coach Mike Babcock said. "He'll out about four weeks. It's unfortunate but there's nothing we can do about it.
"We have to dig in like we did tonight and it's an opportunity for somebody else."Babcock said there's no surgery needed and Datsyuk will wear a cast.
"We know Pavel will be back. He's just getting a little vacation and will be ready for the playoffs," Babcock said. "It's something that's going to heal. It's just going to take some time."Datsyuk fell over Samuelsson and landed on his right hand with action in front of goalie Jimmy Howard's net.
In Datsyuk's stead, Zetterberg had two goals and an assist while carrying the Wings on his shoulders.
"He stepped up and really played well and got determined," Babcock said.
Said Zetterberg, on his winning goal: "Rebound came out to me and I just slapped it and it went under his (Luongo's) glove. They're a good team and playing real well.
"They took over the game with their power play."Nicklas Lidstrom's power play goal at 16:06 tied the game 4-4, his 8th goal of the season.
Former Michigan Wolverine Jeff Tambellini's third period goal at 12:10 broke a 3-3 tie and gave Vancouver a temporary 4-3 lead.
Danny Cleary, Valtteri Filppula and Henrik Zetterberg also scored for the Wings (21-8-4, 46 points).
Henrik Sedin (power play), Daniel Sedin (power play) and Mikael Samuelsson added Canucks (19-8-5, 43 points) goals. Ryan Kesler (Livonia) had three assists.
"We dug in and got going," Babcock said. "They're a good team and we understand that. You need your best players to get determined and a lot of our players skated better as the game went on and that's important."Samuelsson gave the Canucks a 3-2 lead with only 20 seconds left in the second period.
Samuelsson, the former Red Wing, took a drop pass from Henrik Sedin and found a hole to the right of goalie Jimmy Howard, who was screened in front.
Howard made 35 saves while out-dueling Luongo.
"It was two points right now we need them," Howard said.
Babcock said he was undecided who would start tonight in St. Louis