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The Blackhawks' Jonathan Toews, left, stick checks the Red Wings' Pavel Datsyuk in which the Red Wings won 3-2 in overtime. Datsyuk had two assists in the 14th straight home win, tying a team record. ASSOCIATED PRESS Enlarge
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Published: 1/15/2012


Hard way to tie mark

Wings win 14th straight home game in OT

ASSOCIATED PRESS

DETROIT -- The Detroit Red Wings earned a spot in the franchise's storied record books with a 14th straight win at home.

It wasn't easy.

Todd Bertuzzi scored his second goal Saturday at 4:21 in overtime, lifting the Red Wings to a 3-2 win over the Chicago Blackhawks.

Detroit's home winning streak equals the team mark set in 1965.

"Even though we're in the thick of a tight race, it is something we can be proud of as a team," defenseman Nicklas Lidstrom said. "This franchise hasn't done this since the 1960s, so it says a lot that we've been able to do it."

The Red Wings can break the record Monday night against Buffalo.

"It's always good to have something to motivate you on any given night," Lidstrom said.

The seven-time Norris Trophy winner was glad Detroit came out on top because his right skate helped send the game to overtime.

Chicago's Jonathan Toews scored his 23rd goal with 51.7 seconds left in the third period, completing a sequence that started with a shot by Marian Hossa that went off Lidstrom.

The big play gave the Blackhawks a point that will keep them ahead of the Red Wings.

"Huge point," Chicago coach Joel Quenneville said.

The Blackhawks began the day atop the tightly contested Central Division -- leading St. Louis by a point, Detroit by two points, and Nashville by five -- and had a chance to end it in third place behind the Blues and Red Wings until they extended the nationally televised matchup.

"It seems every time it's always a Saturday against them at noon," Bertuzzi said. "It seems to always create some good drama."

The Red Wings looked as if they might roll toward an easy victory when Pavel Datsyuk assisted on two goals -- scored by Tomas Holmstrom and Bertuzzi -- and outshot Chicago 21-4 in the first period.

Jimmy Howard wasn't fooled.

"You knew eventually they were going to start coming and pressing," Howard said.

Howard made 25 saves to earn his NHL-high 26th win.

Corey Crawford had to make 40 saves to give the Blackhawks a shot to win.

After pulling Crawford for an extra skater, Chicago called timeout and scored the tying goal following a faceoff in the Detroit end.

Calgary is the last team to beat Detroit at Joe Louis Arena, winning 4-1 on Nov. 3.

"Always tough to come into this building and play that team," said Hossa, a former Red Wing who is booed every time he has the puck at Detroit.

The Blackhawks have won just three of their last nine games.

Holmstrom, who hadn't scored in his last eight games, put the Red Wings ahead midway through the first period. He was standing in front of the net and redirected a shot from Ian White on the game's first power play.

Bertuzzi scored his first goal on a breakaway off an up-the-middle pass from Datsyuk, who will represent the Red Wings along with Howard at the All-Star game in two weeks.

Howard helped Chicago score with 5:06 left in the second period when he couldn't stop the puck behind his net, hitting it with the heel of his stick to set up rookie Andrew Shaw in front of the net.

Howard faced a flurry of shots in the third, including 11 in the first 6-plus minutes of the period, and kept all of them out of the net to maintain the 2-1 lead.

The Blackhawks had a four-minute power play midway through the third after Drew Miller was sent off for high sticking. Chicago managed just two shots with the extra skater, and caught iron on another attempt.

"It was huge for us," Howard said.

Sharks 2, Blue Jackets 1

COLUMBUS -- Patrick Marleau scored off a rebound with 2:57 left to lead San Jose, extending the Sharks' point streak to eight games.

Ryan Clowe also had a goal for the Sharks, who are 6-0-1 in the new year, and 6-0-2 in their last eight. Thomas Greiss had 25 saves to beat the Blue Jackets for the second time in his only two starts since Dec. 3. He also beat Columbus by the same score in San Jose on Jan. 5.

Rick Nash picked up his fourth goal in four games for the Blue Jackets, who split home games on back-to-back nights. Curtis Sanford had 31 saves for Columbus.



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