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Wings take 1-0 series lead on L.A.
Written By: Ozz
Another first round playoff game against the Los Angelos Kings, another Red Wing vicotry. Detroit jumped to a 3-0 lead after the first period, and went on to win 5-3 to stretch their home un-beaten streak to a team record 20 games. Brendan Shanahan had two gaols and an assist, and Sergei Fedorov had a goal and two assists. Goalie Chris Osgood stopped 27 of 30 shots, 2 of which were on a short handed opportunity by Zigmund Palfy and Brian Smolinski at point blank range. By FAR the best saves of the night! Ozzie was damn good today, even though the Kings scored 3 goals. He made the big save when it was needed. Once again the Red Wings made L.A. pay for their mistakes, scoring twice out of four chances on the power play. The Wings loosened their defense a bit in the second period but shut the Kings down in the third, allowing only four shots on goal. The Kings were 0 for 1 on the power play and haven't scored a power play goal on the Wings in 5 playoff games. They haven't won a playoff game since game one of the Stanley Cup Finals in 1993, a span of now 13 games.
On the down side of the night, Steve Yzerman left the game early with a leg injury. Of course, it's playoff time, and the Wings won't say which leg was hurt. Yzerman tied Gordie Howe's record of 154 playoff games played, but it's unkown at this time if he will be able to go Saturday afternoon at The Joe. Game 2 is at 1pm at Joe Louis Arena. The Wings need Yzerman to be healthy. They can afford to be without him for a game or two in this series, but any longer and it will definately hurt the team a lot. He is their leader, and he's a playoff warrior, one that gets better as the playoffs go on. Let's hope it's not too serious!