Red Wings end six-game streak, but are upset over Lidstrom injury

David Zalubowski, Associated Press

Red Wings coach Mike Babcock, left, argued with Avalanche assistant Tony Granato after a fight between the Wings’ Aaron Downey and the Avs’ Ian Laperriere.

Last update: February 19, 2008 - 1:08 AM

Print this story

• DETROIT 4, COLORADO 0: The Red Wings halted a six-game winless streak, Chris Osgood got his confidence back with an 18-save shutout and the team was still in a sour mood. Having a star knocked out of the game will tend to make a team testy. The league-leading Red Wings were steaming over a hit that left one of their stars, Nicklas Lidstrom, with a knee injury after beating the Avalanche on Monday. Lidstrom was checked into the boards by Ian Laperriere in the first period and didn't return. "We can't be running the superstars out of our game," Detroit winger Aaron Downey said. "If you want to have a good, clean hit, go out there and have a good, clean hit. I have no problem with that. But when the elbows are up, when you hit probably one of the best defensemen to play the game, it's a joke in my mind. So the message is similar: The next time anyone runs one of our guys the way it shouldn't be done, then the message will be sent. Fair justice is fair justice." Laperriere didn't understand all the commotion. He thought the hit was fair. "The referee said it wasn't illegal," he said. "I play hard. Hopefully, he's going to be OK. I respect him a lot."

• N.Y. ISLANDERS 3, SAN JOSE 2: Freddy Meyer capped the Islanders' three-goal, third-period rally with 8:41 left, taking advantage of injured Sharks goalie Evgeni Nabokov in Uniondale, N.Y. The Islanders struck against Nabokov, who returned to the game to start the third period after a slapshot by defenseman Radek Martinek broke his mask and cut him on the bridge of the nose in the second period.

• PHOENIX 4, LOS ANGELES 0: Radim Vrbata had a goal and two assists as the Coyotes beat the host Kings for Wayne Gretzky's 100th victory as coach. Mikael Tellqvist stopped 33 shots in the shutout.

• NEW JERSEY 5, CAROLINA 1: Travis Zajac had a goal and an assist, leading the host Devils.

NOTES

• Islanders coach Ted Nolan missed the first period of Monday's game against the Sharks following the sudden death of junior hockey player Mickey Renaud, a teammate of Nolan's son. Nolan spent the first part of the Islanders' 3-2 victory talking on the phone with his son, Jordan. "He was my son's teammate and good friend, and it was tragic," Nolan said. Renaud, a 19-year-old center and the captain of the Ontario Hockey League's Windsor Spitfires, died Monday after collapsing at his home, the team said.

• The Hurricanes put team captain Rod Brind'Amour (torn left knee ligament) on injured reserve.

ASSOCIATED PRESS

Recent Minnesota Wild stories

Kiprusoff's 38 saves, Iginla's 2 goals give Calgary a 5-2 win over Maple Leafs - February 19, 2008

Kiprusoff's 38 saves, Iginla's 2 goals give Calgary a 5-2 win over Maple Leafs - Jarome Iginla scored two goals and Miikka Kiprusoff made 38 saves and the Calgary Flames earned a 5-2 victory over the Toronto Maple Leafs on Saturday night. More