You may as well refer to the Wings as the Harlem Globetrotters when it comes to the shootout.
Thursday night the Wings won their fifth straight game as they defeated the Phoenix Coyotes 3-2 and remained very strong in the shootout.
The game winner came when Todd Bertuzzi pulled off an unbelievable spin-o-rama to beat Phoenix goaltender Mike Smith. Prior to that Jimmy Howard stopped all three Coyote shooters as well as turning away 31 shots during the game.
The Wings also gave Phoenix plenty of opportunities to win the game after regulation.
With a little over three minutes left in overtime, Pavel Datysuk was called for a penalty after losing his stick and trying to stave off the Phoenix pressure. From there the Wings were able to kill off the ensuing power play before Niklas Kronwall also lost his stick as Phoenix continued to keep the pressure on Jimmy Howard.
During the regular sixty minutes of play, both teams were pretty even as Detroit was able to edge out Phoenix in total shots 35-33.
Phoenix though was able to get on the board first as Raffi Torres lit the lamp about 2 and a half minutes into the game.
In the second period, Ian White was able to get the Wings even before Todd Bertuzzi put the Wings ahead when he blasted a shot past Mike Smith.
The Wings lead lasted for about 3 minutes as Phoenix’s Gilbert Brule scored his second goal of the season to get the Coyotes back even with the Wings.
Detroit’s power play remains somewhat of a concern as they went 0/5 and weren’t able to capitalize on bunch of Phoenix too many men on the ice penalties.
The Wings now head back home to take on the Columbus Blue Jackets Saturday.
Ref: ESPN.com, Getty (image)