Red Wings Stun Carolina, Complete Series Sweep with 3-1 Win

The Detroit Red Wings completed their series sweep of the Hurricanes with a 3-1 win, guided by Jonathan Bernier‘s stellar goaltending, Adam Erne‘s sizzling scoring streak, and a Filip Zadina power play goal.

Despite a scoreless first period, both teams notched solid scoring chances throughout, and Detroit controlled the pace of play for all but the final few minutes. Erne and Michael Rasmussen were Detroit’s most impactful players through twenty – Erne registered five of the team’s eleven shots.

The second period was another without a goal from either team. However, unlike the first period, the lack of goals was a solid indicator of the play on the ice – a grindy, defensive twenty minutes filled with stalled offensive series.

The Red Wings decided to kick off the scoring in the third, as Rasmussen slid the puck to the front of the net for a red-hot Erne. Erne’s goal extended his scoring streak to seven games, and marks the 20,000th Detroit Red Wings franchise goal. The Red Wings followed up the score with another Rasmussen assisted goal, as Zadina ripped it to the top of the net on the power play. Zadina’s celebration told you all you needed to know – that was a long time coming, especially for a player that seems to have at least a couple good scoring chances a game.

The Hurricanes stepped up the offensive pressure, and cut the lead to one with just six minutes left in the third. However, thanks to save after save, Bernier kept the Hurricanes from tying the game, and Sam Gagner iced it with an empty netter.

Red Wings Goals

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Red Wings Game Notes

• Special teams were lights out. The Red Wings killed four penalties against the league’s best power play, and scored on the power play to keep the game out of reach.
• Rasmussen and  Erne earned the 2nd and 3rd stars. Rasmussen seemed to be in on every major play, finally using his frame to screen the net and win battles. His two assists were beauties. Erne continued to extend his scoring streak, and has played with insane confidence night in and night out. Maybe it’s not so bad that Erne wasn’t shipped off for an asset.
• After a rough game giving up seven goals, Bernier seems to be back. He made 36 saves, letting in only one goal against a lethal Carolina team. Maybe the stability that he brings to the team is worth more than what Yzerman was being offered at the deadline. If he continues this sort of play, Stevie will try to sign him as a transitional piece in the offseason – given some reliability to the younger players on the ice.