NHL Scores: Tim Thomas returns to Boston; Red Wings blown out

The Detroit Red Wings are shorthanded right now due to injuries, and the result is not pretty. Tim Thomas also had an ugly return to Boston.

by Adam Gretz

Jan 29, 2014, 1:01 PM UTC

Eric Hartline-USA TODAY Sports

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NHL Tuesday: Flyers shut out Wings; Leafs, Senators win

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So what do the Detroit Red Wings look like when you take Pavel Datsyuk, Henrik Zetterberg, Johan Franzen and Jimmy Howard out of the lineup?

Whatever it is, it’s ugly, and it was full display on Tuesday night when the shorthanded Wings were run out of the building in Philadelphia in a 5-0 loss that handed them their 16th loss in their past 25 games. Injuries have taken their toll on the Red Wings all season, and they’re really starting to catch up to them now.

Following their loss on Tuesday, the Wings remains just outside the Eastern Conference playoff picture, tied with Carolina with 57 points. The Hurricanes, however, have three more regulation and overtime wins which puts them ahead of Detroit.

Elsewhere on Tuesday, Tim Thomas made his first start in Boston since he left the Bruins and ended up giving up six goals on 41 shots. The Capitals needed overtime to beat Buffalo but came away with two points thanks to a pair of two-goal performances from Alex Ovechkin and Mike Green. Marcus Johansson and Nicklas Backstroms had a couple of run-ins with Sabres defenseman Mike Weber during the game.

The Los Angeles Kings offense continued to struggle in a 3-0 loss to the Coyotes, the second time in three games in which they have failed to score a goal, while the Anaheim Ducks lost just their second home game of the season in regulation by dropping a 4-2 decision to the Minnesota Wild. The Ducks will have to settle for a 21-2-2 record on home ice for the moment.

All the NHL Scores

Bruins 6, Panthers 2

Maple Leafs 3, Lightning 2

Flyers 5, Red Wings 0

Senators 3, Blue Jackets 2

Capitals 5, Sabres 4

Canadiens 3, Hurricanes 0

Blues 3, Devils 0

Predators 4, Jets 3

Coyotes 3, Kings 0

Flames 5, Blackhawks 4

Wild 4, Ducks 2

Five Questions

On Tuesday we asked you five burning questions about the days games. These are your cool, soothing answers.

1. How will Tim Thomas perform against the Boston Bruins?

Not well. He didn't get much help from his teammates, but he didn't really help himself either by giving up six goals on 41 shots. He also clubbed Carl Soderberg over the head after he was unhappy with some of the stuff going on around his net (including from Soderberg) and earned a two-minute high-sticking penalty in the final seconds. He almost would have had more fun watching the State of the Union address. Almost.

2. Will the Lightning pull even with the Bruins in total points?

They did not. The Bruins blew out Florida, and Tampa Bay fell victim to the Maple Leafs being the Maple Leafs. In other words, Tampa Bay badly outshot Toronto only to lose because Jonathan Bernier played great and Nazem Kadri did some great things with the puck. Tampa Bay is now four points back of Boston in the Atlantic Division race.

3. Can the Flyers capitalize on the Red Wings’ injuries?

Oh good heavens, yes. This was a massacre from the drop of the puck as the Flyers rolled to a 5-0 win. Detroit just simply didn't have anything going on in this one, and seeing as how the Red Wings were without Pavel Datsyuk, Henrik Zetterberg, Johan Franzen, and Jimmy Howard that's not really a surprise.

4. Will the Montreal Canadiens end their four-game losing streak?

They did thanks to a 36-save shutout from Carey Price and goals from Brandon Prust, Brendan Gallagher and Max Pacioretty. This was the best game Montreal has played in weeks.

5. Will the Columbus Blue Jackets end their two-game losing streak?

The NHL season is one of peaks and valleys, and after reaching the high point with a franchise record eight-game winning streak, the Blue Jackets are now sliding back down the mountain having lost three in a row. Their streak continued on Tuesday with a 3-2 loss at home to the Ottawa Senators. Stephane Da Costa scored a pair of goals for the Senators (his first two of the season) while Jason Spezza scored the game-winner with just a little less than five minutes to play in regulation.

Impact Moment

The one play or moment from Tuesday that will be making headlines over the next couple of days.

This could be concerning news for both the Nashville Predators and Team Canada. Defenseman Shea Weber had to leave the Predators' 4-3 win over the Winnipeg Jets on Tuesday with an upper body injury that is still being evaluated. Early returns seem to suggest that it's not serious, but it's still never good when your top defenseman has to leave a game early. Weber was seen laboring on his way to the bench following a shot attempt early in the third period. He left the game at that point and did not return. Canada is already dealing with the possibility of having to come up with a plan B for Steven Stamkos if he can't go. It's probably not interested in having to do the same thing for Weber on the blue line.

Stat of the Night

Cory Schneider stopped 22 of 24 shots on Tuesday and took the loss, as the Devils were shut out against St. Louis, 3-0. In Schneider's past nine starts he has a .956 save percentage (which is unbelievably good) and just five wins to show for it. For the season he has the fifth-best save percentage in the league but is 35th in the league in wins (nine). Somebody get that guy some goal support. And some more consistent playing time.