The Detroit Red Wings got back on track and Tomas Jurco got off the snide in a 5-0 win Tuesday at Columbus over the Blue Jackets. Jurco scored his first goal of the season as a season-high 11 different Detroit players figured in the scoring.
“It was an amazing feeling,… Jurco said. “It’s been so long since I scored I couldn’t believe it at first that it finally went in. But it’s a great feeling and hopefully I broke the bad luck tonight and it’s going to go in for me.…
Jurco admitted he’d been feeling the pressure of his mounting scoring slump, which included a three-game sitdown as a healthy scratch.
“For sure, it’s going to help me mentally,… Jurco said. “At times I was getting a little frustrated that it didn’t go in for me, but at the same time I was trying to stay focused and keep shooting and it finally went in, so it’s a good sign for me.…
As much as he was pleased by Detroit’s five goals and solid overall effort, Wings coach Mike Babcock was happiest about the 40 shots they directed at Blue Jackets netminder Sergei Bobrovsky.
“We fired a lot of rubber on net,… Babcock said. “We haven’t been shooting the puck like we should. We’re always looking for a pass and tonight we shot the puck and we were rewarded.…
Pulling Out All The Stops
Jimmy Howard ended a personal four-game losing streak against the Blue Jackets as he blocked 28 shots and posted the 19th shutout of his career in his 300th NHL appearance.
“Howie was standing on his head today, making really big saves,… Detroit defenseman Jonathan Ericsson said.
Tuesday was the first game of a three-game road trip for the Wings, who’ve yet to win successive away games this season. Detroit will visit Winnipeg on Thursday and then travel to Toronto Saturday to meet the struggling Maple Leafs.
“In order to get to the playoffs you’ve got to be able to win games on the road, and we’ve got to find a way to string some together here,… Howard said. “This is a great opportunity to get that started here.…
Who Needs Datsyuk?
Not the Wings, who scored twice on the power play for the fourth time in six games. In three of those games, Detroit center Pavel Datsyuk was sidelined by the groin ailment that again kept him out of the lineup Tuesday.
“I thought our power play was very, very dangerous,… Babcock said. “Our specialty teams tonight were really solid.…
They Can’t Hear You
Detroit’s shutout performance also silenced the giant cannon that shoots off inside Nationwide Arena every time the Blue Jackets score a goal.
“It’s nice when we make sure that cannon goes off once or never,… said Detroit defenseman Brendan Smith, who collected two assists and loosened some of Nick Foligno’s teeth in a third-period fight. “That’s what our goal was and I was pretty sure we could keep them off the scoreboard."
Not that Smith has anything against the cannon, mind you.
“It’s a cool thing there,… Smith said. “They love it, so it’s cool for them. But like I said we really didn’t want to hear it too much and wanted to make sure it doesn’t go off.…
Quick Stop
The Wings opted to return home after Tuesday’s game and practice at Joe Louis Arena on Wednesday before flying to Winnipeg.
“I think anyone would want to come home instead of having to stay on the road,… Detroit left-winger Drew Miller said. “We'll use it as something that can be an advantage and keep going on the road trip after leaving home again.…
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