Todd Bertuzzi gives Detroit Red Wings an edge over Phoenix Coyotes, 3-2 – NHL Update
What if Todd Bertuzzi was not playing for Detroit Red Wings?
One of the possible answers is that the Red Wings would have lost against the lowly Phoenix Coyotes on Thursday, January 19, 2012, at the Jobing.com Arena.
But who cares about possibilities when there is a certified fact that Todd is a Red Winger and would come to his team’s rescue whenever needed.
Bertuzzi scored the only goal in shootout on Thursday before giving the Red Wings a lead in the second period as the Coyotes were handed yet another defeat (3-2). They have lost seven out of their last nine games.
One has to accept that the Coyotes did give the Red Wings a tough time.
They took a lead early in the first period and levelled the score in the second after falling behind.
The shootout phase was the most exciting of the game where the goalies, Jimmy Howard and Mike Smith, did their best to defend the respective nets, but Smith missed the last shot and gave the game away.
Phoenix were in front quite early in the game.
Kyle Chipchura was dealing with the Red Wings’ defenders behind the net when the control of the puck was slightly lost.
Raffi Torres grabbed the opportunity and picked the puck. He wrapped around and sent it into the net from between the goalie’s pads.
The rest of the period stayed goalless and the Red Wings got the equaliser early in the second period.
At 1:36, Ian White received a pass from Johan Franzen, and fired a shot from the right circle, beating Mike Smith.
The Red Wings scored another goal and got the lead after around 10 minutes.
Franzen provided another assist, this time setting up Bertuzzi, who fired a slap-shot from the left circle at 11:13, taking the score to 2-1.
The Coyotes replied at 14:08. Gilbert Brule intercepted a pass and sent the puck to Chipchura, who gave it back to the Brule as he skated towards the goalie and dodged the puck into the net.
No scoring move was made in the final period and the extra period also stayed the same, forcing the game to the shootout.
Both the teams missed their first two chances and were left with one chance apiece.
Brule missed the final opportunity while Bertuzzi did not hesitate in beating Mike Smith to take his team to the victory.
The Red Wings got their fifth straight victory, but coach, Mike Babcock, expects more from his team.
"Our power play wasn't good enough tonight, hasn't been good enough in a long time," he said.
"We're not building enough momentum for the calibre of players we have. We weren't clicking on all cylinders by any means but we found a way to grind out a road win."
The Red Wings are now going to face Columbus Blue Jackets on Saturday, January 21, while the dejected Coyotes will take on Tampa Bay Lightning on the same day.
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