The Phoenix Coyotes came as hard as they could, getting two power play goals from Shane Doan in the third period. The Detroit Red Wings held the line, however, and beat the Coyotes 4-3 in Game 2 of their Western Conference Quarterfinal series. They now lead the series 2-0.
Coyotes Vs. Red Wings, Game 2: Doan’s Two In The Third Puts Phoenix Back In It, But Detroit Holds On
Martin Hanzal was racing after the puck to try and cancel out an icing with Brian Rafalski. Hanzal bumped Rafalski well after he had touched the puck, and got a roughing penalty for it at, as well as an unsportsmanlike conduct minor that was outstanding after Dan Cleary got a penalty as well. From the point, Pavel Datsyuk made a beautiful move to deke past Phoenix’s Adrian Aucoin, then - in the same motion - just ripped a wrister past Bryzgalov. It was Datsyuk’s second goal of the series at 10:42.
During a 4-on-3 for the Red Wings, Michal Rozsival completed a trifecta of unnecessary penalties, when he chopped at Justin Abdelkader. He took a slash at 15:23, and the Red Wings quickly set to work. Brian Rafalski ripped a slap shot through a screen past Bryzgalov to make it 2-0 Detroit. It was Rafalski’s second goal of the series as well, and the Red Wings second power play goal of the game at 15:50. The Coyotes didn’t play all that badly in the first period, but they will need to stay out of the penalty box if they want back into this game. Five minors in the first is unacceptable for them.
Then late in the first period, a play that showed all the sustainability of the Red Wings attack shone through. Datsyuk chipped a loose puck past Keith Yandle, took it to the outside, went between his legs and put a shot on Bryzgalov. The Russian keeper made the first save, but there was Darren Helm to put in the rebound. It was his first goal of the post-season at 19:01. Datsyuk has figured on all three goals with a goal and two assists.
Things continued going the Red Wings way when Tomas Holmstrom scored the Red Wings second even-strength goal of the game at 1:10 to make it 4-0. Pavel Datsyuk got another assist, meaning he has figured into all four goals scored by Detroit in the game, and five of eight in the series. The count is 2-3-5 for one of the most talented forwards in the sport. The Red Wings started looking almost Globetrotter-esque at this point, making some wonderful plays but not able to connect on goal number five, yet. Even better, Johan Franzen finally returned.
The Coyotes finally responded at 7:02, when Radim Vrbata got a big rebound and pushed it into the open side to make it 4-1. It was Vrbata's second goal of the series, with Keith Yandle finally registering a point. The 'Yotes are going to have to take a long road to come back, but at least they've started early enough. Ed Jovanovski left the game late in the second period, with an apparent head injury, as he went to "the quiet room" for awhile. He did not return with what was reported as an "upper body injury." Martin Hanzal also left the game early in the third, but returned after awhile.
In the third period, the Red Wings controlled the momentum for a good portion of the early third. However, Todd Bertuzzi went off for an ill-advised slash of Kyle Turris at 5:27. In very quick order, Shane Doan put home a rebound of a Keith Yandle shot to make it 4-2. Both Coyotes goals to that point came on the power play, and right after the goal, they got another opportunity when Johan Franzen went off for a cross-check at 6:38.
Detroit then took another penalty when Darren Helm hauled down Martin Hanzal to give the Coyotes their second extended 5-on-3 of the series. If they were to turn momentum back in their favor and tie the game, this would be it. It looked for awhile that they would force things too much and not get the goal, but eventually, they found their captain, Shane Doan for a one-timer that he ripped between the legs of Jimmy Howard to cut it to 4-3, before the 5-on-3 even ended.
Bryzgalov went to the bench with 1:04 to go in the third and the Coyotes had one last gasp at tying the game. The Red Wings called a timeout with 41.1 left to settle things down. The Red Wings hawked the Coyotes and wouldn’t let them get into the zone until their were 10 seconds left. They were unable to even get a shot away, and Detroit hung on for victory.
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