Detroit Red Wings stay hot with 4-2 win over Tampa Bay Lightning -NHL Update
Detroit continued to stay hot in the 2011-2012 National Hockey League (NHL) by winning their sixth straight matchup to end off the month of November as the Red Wings dominated the final period to glide to a, 4-2, victory over the Tampa Bay Lightning on Wednesday
night, November 30, 2011, at the sold out Joe Louis Arena in Detroit, Michigan, United States.
Over 20,000 fans were anxious to see whether their home team would continue winning in their final home game before taking off on a two-game road trip on Friday against the Buffalo Sabres, while the Red Wings certainly did not disappoint and moved up into
the second spot in the Western Conference with 31 points.
The Red Wings might have played a little sloppy according to head coach, Mike Babcock, but his team still managed to pull off another victory.
"It was a good win for our team. To be honest with you, I didn't think we were great," Babcock said. "I thought we were good in the first. I thought we turned over too many pucks and weren't as physical as we normally are. We didn't have as much energy."
Detroit’s rallying in the first and third periods were crucial as Pavel Datsyuk and Jonathan Ericsson potted two straight in the first 11 minutes of the opening period to give Detroit a commanding lead while Martin St. Louis and Steven Stamkos added another
two in the second to level the match for Tampa Bay.
Tomas Holmstrom made the tie-breaker at the 4:22 mark of the third period during their first power play opportunity of the final 20 minute round as Eric Brewer was booked for hooking with a minor penalty while Darren Helm secured the match nearly 10 minutes
later while Detroit goalie, Jimmy Howard, managed blocked all nine shots in the period by the Lightning.
"It was just being patient. I gave up a backdoor goal late in the second. I didn't want to do that again," Howard said. "I played a little deeper than I'd like in the last couple minutes. I gave myself a chance to make every save."
The Lightning have the next at home against the New York Rangers on Saturday.
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