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Red Wings' 21st straight home win sets NHL single-season record
DETROIT, Feb 15, 2012 (Detroit Free Press - McClatchy-Tribune News Service via COMTEX) --
The atmosphere, the energy, the vibrancy of the evening rivaled games held in June, not February. At the end, chants of "21! 21! 21!" reverberated around the arena, until the buzzer sounded, and then the applause came in wave after wave.
The Detroit Red Wings set the NHL single-season record with 21 straight home wins by beating the Dallas Stars, 3-1, Tuesday night at Joe Louis Arena. In the days leading up to the game the Wings talked mostly of the need to get points; they did the same afterward, but they acknowledged that accomplishing both was phenomenal.
"I think the record has been secondary," Henrik Zetterberg said, "but it is pretty cool now that we first of all were able to tie it last game, and now when we really pulled it off and got the record. It was awesome."
Zetterberg and Brad Stuart scored in the first period and Jiri Hudler in the third. Adam Burish beat Joey MacDonald with less than a minute to play in regulation, one of just five shots the Stars got in the third period and the last of 21 overall.
The Wings haven't lost at the Joe since Nov. 3. Stuart said, "It's sort of surreal" to have the 21-game record "because it's taken so long to get it."
When they did get it, the Wings acknowledged fans by gathering in the middle and raising their sticks in salute.
"It kind of came from our PR department before the game, if we were able to win," captain Nicklas Lidstrom said.
The Wings won on the strength of their power play, which got one goal; their penalty kill, which held the Stars 0-for-2; and the scoring depth that has sustained them game after game after game as they've maintained their perch atop the NHL.
"We're proud of the fact our guys have been this consistent," coach Mike Babcock said. "We found ways to win each and every night. We needed the points. Any time you're in a race like we are, you need the points. Our guys did a good job here again tonight.
"We're thrilled that this has happened for our team. I think it's really good for our logo, it's really good for our ownership and our team. I'm proud of the guys."
The previous single-season record for consecutive home wins was held by the 1975-76 Philadelphia Flyers and the 1929-30 Boston Bruins; the Bruins went on to win their first two games of the '30-31 season to set the all-time record for consecutive home wins with 22.
History shrouded this evening: The Wings honored Tomas Holmstrom before the game for having played in his 1,000th game last Friday; at the end, they celebrated team history.
"It started off being a special night with Homer and his family out on the ice, and being able to celebrate him," Lidstrom said. "Once the game started, I thought we came out with that determination that we've shown here the last couple of games and really going after teams when we have the chance to do it."
The Wings have outscored opponents, 87-31, during the streak. The Stars got 10 shots on net in the first period but few were good scoring chances; one of their best came in the second period, only Mike Ribeiro's rebound rattled off a post.
"I thought Joey Mac was good," Babcock said, "but I didn't think we gave up much. But, he's got to have a lot of confidence in himself right now, and I know the guys have a lot of confidence in him."
The Wings looked ready to reach the record from the opening shift. It took them less than 10 minutes to dent Kari Lehtonen, who gave up a rebound goal on a power play to Zetterberg at 7:57 and then a long-range goal to Stuart at 9:15. Darren Helm won the face-off and the puck went back to Stuart, who netted his fifth goal of the season by shooting through traffic. Dating back to when the streak began on Nov. 5, the Wings have outscored opponents, 31-9, in first periods en route to dusting off one visitor after another.
The Stars barely got near MacDonald in the third period, not until after Hudler had secured the victory by snapping in a nice pass from Valtteri Filppula. MacDonald didn't make his first save of the stretch until 11 minutes had passed, and didn't make his second with a little over five minutes to go as the Wings staked their claim to NHL history.
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(c)2012 the Detroit Free Press
Visit the Detroit Free Press at www.freep.com
Distributed by MCT Information Services
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