In just a blink, Wild's strong effort was all gone

Ann Heisenfelt, AP

Red Wings star Pavel Datsyuk scored the only goal of the shootout Saturday night, beating Wild goalie Josh Harding.

The Wild held up well through three periods and OT, but Detroit made good on its first shootout shot.

By BRIAN STENSAAS, Star Tribune

Last update: January 4, 2009 - 4:51 PM

As if playing against a top Western Conference team for the second game in a row wasn't daunting enough for the Wild on Saturday, it did so voluntarily shorthanded.

Even with coach Jacques Lemaire opting to keep defensemen Erik Reitz and NHL newcomer John Scott on the bench for every second beyond the second period, Minnesota's four remaining regular blueliners still kept the Red Wings at bay.

In the end, the Wild took Detroit into overtime and eventually a shootout.

Pavel Datsyuk's nifty backhand-to-forehand move in front of Minnesota goaltender Josh Harding on Detroit's first shootout attempt was successful. And it was the only goal of the session, giving the Red Wings a 3-2 victory.

"They played one of the best games in front of me they have all year," Harding said of the Wild's defense. "Everybody battled hard. Too bad we didn't get the win because I definitely think, in this room, we all think we deserved it."

For much of the second half, Minnesota was right with the defending Stanley Cup champion Red Wings.

Down 1-0 after the first period, Minnesota's play in the second put it tantalizingly close to pulling ahead.

Cal Clutterbuck drew an interference penalty by Brad Stuart less than a half-minute into the period, but the Wild couldn't capitalize. Kim Johnsson's second chance of the night at a wide-open net didn't click, and Colton Gillies was stoned by Detroit's Chris Osgood point-blank.

A 5-on-3 advantage in the final minute was unsuccessful. That carried over into the first 31 seconds of the third, and then things got cooking.

Four seconds after the two-man advantage expired, Brent Burns' slapshot from the left point went off Osgood's right skate and directly to Owen Nolan. His backhanded sweep found the back of the net for a 1-1 tie.

Sixteen seconds after that, a turnover by Niklas Kronwall in front of his own net went right to Antti Miettinen, who blitzed a shot over Osgood's blocker.

"We feel in here, if we continue to play that way we'll be fine the rest of the season," Nolan said. "It's encouraging. Guys are feeling pretty good right now."

Detroit tied the score with 4:37 to play on a Johan Franzen tip shot that was initially called a high-stick, but the call was overruled after video replays.

Minnesota is on the road for its next four games, and it will be telling to see how much energy the team continues to have, particularly if the defenders continue to be asked to contribute extra. Burns and Johnsson each played more than 30 minutes Saturday.

"That's what we had to do," Lemaire said of shortening his defensive unit. "Could be tough [today], but we'll give them a pillow on the plane so they can rest."