ANAHEIM, California: Another quirk in an already strange NHL schedule had Detroit playing the Anaheim Ducks on the road twice in a span of three days. And the Red Wings handed the team with the second-best record in the league back-to-back losses in regulation for the first time this season.
Jimmy Howard made 33 saves, Dan Cleary and Drew Miller scored first-period goals, and the Red Wings won a 2-1 nail-biter yesterday after Friday’s 5-1 rout - a game highlighted by Justin Abdelkader’s first NHL hat trick.
The Ducks, who trail idle Chicago by three points for the league’s best record, have stumbled a bit following a 22-3-4 start that was the best in franchise history. They also had back-to-back shootout losses on the road against the Phoenix Coyotes earlier this month. Meanwhile, a great second effort by Jarome Iginla earned some praise from an opponent and helped the Calgary Flames snap a three-game slide. Iginla scored the game-winning goal in the third period of Calgary’s 3-2 victory over the St Louis Blues. Thanks to a nice pass from Alex Tanguay, the Flames captain found himself on a partial breakaway. AGENCIES
