Red Wings stifle Gaborik, Wild

Jennifer Simonson, ALL

Detroit's Johan Franzen (93), center, got tangled up in front of the Wild's goalie Niklas Backstrom (32), right, and defenseman Brent Burns (8) during the second period. The Wild lost to the Red Wings, 4-1.

By Michael Russo, Star Tribune

Last update: December 23, 2007 - 8:54 PM

The Wild thought Christmas came early when not only would Tomas Holmstrom miss Saturday night’s game, but so would star winger Henrik Zetterberg.

That’s two-thirds of the Detroit Red Wings’ juggernaut of a first line.Didn’t matter, though.

The final third, Pavel Datsyuk, showed up, as did Wild killer Dominik Hasek, and the Wild suffered its usual one-sided loss to the Red Wings, the latest by a 4-1 blowout.

The Wild, which has lost 13 of the past 15 meetings with Detroit, surrendered 51 shots, the most it’s ever given up at home, and saw its four-game winning streak stopped.

“That’s our measuring stick, and we’ve got a long way to go,” Wild winger Brian Rolston said. “And we know that. We’re not close to that team right now. We’ve got to get better, and that’s a good, humbling thing.”

Said Hasek: “This was one of our most dominating games of the season.”

Detroit has 26 wins, so that’s saying something.

Just as they did in Detroit two weeks ago, the league-leading Wings picked apart the Wild. Two weeks ago in a 5-0 rout, Detroit outshot the Wild 34-19 during a visit that caused the Red Wings’ Zamboni driver to diss the Wild.

“He told us we didn’t show up. The guy from the Zamboni! That’s big,” coach Jacques Lemaire said.

The driver apparently didn’t motivate the Wild because it was outshot 51-19 Saturday as the elder Hasek, 42 could have sat in a rocking chair.

The future Hall of Famer improved to 9-0-2 all-time vs. the Wild, with victories in six in a row.

“He doesn’t have to make too many big saves against us,” Rolston said. “We don’t test him.”

At least the Wild scored this time, even though Kim Johnsson’s pass (first goal in 48 games) was actually put into Detroit’s net by Red Wings defenseman Chris Chelios.

“We didn’t skate like we can, and if you don’t, this is how you’re going to look,” Lemaire said. “They were missing two of their top guys, and still …”

Saturday’s yawner was a disappointing end to what had been an exciting homestand — the Wild’s comeback Tuesday against

Nashville in which Rolston scored the winner late and Thursday’s five-goal, six-point explosion against the Rangers by Marian Gaborik.Gaborik followed with one assist, two shots, two giveaways, two penalties and a minus-2 rating Saturday. It was not one of his finest 2½ hours, although Aaron Voros, who took two penalties, was benched in the third.

“[Voros] took a couple penalties, which I don’t like,” Lemaire said. “Certain guys, they just can’t afford to get penalties. I would have sat other guys, but I can’t sit Gabby.”

Niklas Backstrom got the start for the first time since Dec. 11 and made a career-high 47 saves.

“We thought it would be a good test, … and it was a good test,” Lemaire said. “He played well.”

Pavel Datsyuk, Johan Franzen, Dan Cleary and Tomas Kopecky, forwards on four separate lines, scored for the Red Wings.

“I think sometimes they have puck control like that, they lull us to sleep,” Rolston said.

Added Mark Parrish: “We just couldn’t get five guys on the same page. It was a frustrating night. It felt like we were chasing all night and I’m sure that’s probably what it looked like.”