Bertuzzi marks 1,000th game by scoring Wings' clincher in shootout
Feb. 20, 2011
ST. PAUL, Minn. -- Playing in your 1,000th game is special. But for Todd Bertuzzi, the memory of his milestone game Sunday will be a bit more memorable.
Bertuzzi's shootout goal clinched the Red Wings' 2-1 victory over Minnesota, the Wings' fifth consecutive win.
Pavel Datsyuk was credited with the game-winner, having scored in the first round. But Bertuzzi scored in the third round, a backhander over Wild goalie Niklas Backstrom, to clinch the win, as goalie Jimmy Howard had stopped the first two Minnesota shooters.
"It's pretty special for sure," said Bertuzzi, who played 18 minutes and was credited with two shots on goal. "I saw it might come down to the third shooter after Howie had made those saves and give me a chance for the win.
"It was a great feeling when it went in."
After Bertuzzi scored, the Wings mobbed him near the boards.
"Just a nice way to win a game, and for Bert, you could see how everybody was excited for him," Kris Draper said.
Someone did retrieve the game-winning puck and Bertuzzi had it in his possession after the game.
"Something I'll take care of," Bertuzzi said.
This was a tough, well-earned victory for the Wings (37-16-6, 80 points), who appreciated the comfort of being at home Sunday evening.
They left Fort Lauderdale after Friday's game, the end of the father-sons trip, and arrived in Detroit at 3 a.m. before returning to board a plane to Minnesota at 5 p.m. Saturday and then waking early for Sunday's 11:30 a.m. (Central time) faceoff.
"It's definitely different," Draper said. "Most of us woke up at 8 a.m., grabbed breakfast, and just came down to the rink to play."
Time differences notwithstanding, the Wings played a fine all-around game.
"We did a lot of good things," coach Mike Babcock said. "Both goalies were good and we had a lot of opportunities. It was good for us to find a way to win.
"We didn't give up much. When we did, our goaltending was there."
Howard stopped 25 shots. Backstrom made 38 saves for Minnesota.
After two airtight, defensive periods of hockey, Nicklas Lidstrom and Minnesota's Martin Havlat traded third-period goals.
Lidstrom put the Wings ahead 1-0 with his 12th goal at 1:10 of the third period. But the Wild quickly answered, with Havlat tying the score with his 18th goal at 4:50.
Said Wild coach Todd Richards: "It was a pretty fast, intense game. Detroit's always impressive. I was impressed with the way we battled. We earned a tough point."
