Detroit Red Wings Find A Point From Datsyuk's Return

By Daniel Gustkey

Pavel Datsyuk returns, and the Detroit Red Wings get points.  Err point, but you get the idea.

The Red Wings picked up their sole point on the four game west coast roadie, and one could argue one of the more important points of the season.  Coming off three poor performances in three consecutive losses, it was good for Detroit to grab at least a point from San Jose, a place they have really struggled over the last few seasons.  The still short-handed Wings more than held their own at the Shark Tank; a good sign heading into the playoffs.  Martin Havlat found the game winner in overtime over a slew of intertwined bodies in front of goal.  The puck squeezed out and Havlat was able to find the back of the net over the body of Ian White.

The correlation between the return of Pavel Datsyuk and the Red Wings playing good hockey is no coincidence.  The best player in the NHL has missed the last couple months after minor knee surgery, but looked like his usual self throughout most of the night.  Datsyuk scored the Red Wings first goal from an absolutely ridiculous angle after putting a nasty move around the Sharks’ defensemen.

The point also gave Detroit a two-point cushion over current 5th seed Nashville, who lost in Los Angeles.  With St. Louis looking like they are out of reach, it is important for the Wings to keep the 4 seed to give them home ice advantage in the first round of the playoffs.

Jimmy Howard stopped 32 of the 35 San Jose shots, including big saves on Shark breakaways.

The Wings return home on Monday to begin the final 10 games of the season.  Detroit gets 7 of those remaining 10 games at Joe Louis Arena, which should help their playoff seeding moving forward.

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