Red Wings tie mark with 20th home victory in row
The Detroit Red Wings equaled an NHL record with their 20th straight win at home, beating the Philadelphia Flyers 4-3 on Sunday night on the strength of Johan Franzen's tiebreaking goal early in the third period.
The league mark was set by the Boston Bruins during the 1929-30 season and matched by Philadelphia in 1976. Detroit can break the record with a win Tuesday night over Dallas.
The NHL-leading Red Wings have been more focused on trying to keep their edge in the highly competitive Central Division and Western Conference, not their streak on home ice.
"We don't want to talk about it," defenseman Nicklas Lidstrom said. "We just want to keep it going. Just go out there and play and win games. That's the approach we've had."
Another milestone was reached in the contest: Lidstrom played in his 1,550th game, the most by an NHL player who spent his entire career with one team. Former Red Wing Alex Delvecchio played 1,549 games, spending his entire career with Detroit's franchise from the 1950-51 season to 1973-74.
"That's something special," Lidstrom said. "(Delvecchio) came down on Friday and congratulated me and we took a picture together. That means a lot to me."
Gordie Howe played in a club-record 1,687 games for Detroit but ended his NHL career with the Hartford Whalers.
Philadelphia rookie Brayden Schenn had two goals, helping the Flyers take the first of two leads they couldn't keep against a team that hasn't lost at home since Nov. 3. Detroit goalie Joey MacDonald overcame shaky clearing attempts that led to two goals and finished with 26 saves.
Penguins 4, Lightning 2 • Evgeni Malkin continued his torrid play, scoring his 31st and 32nd goals of the season as Pittsburgh won at home. He has scored in eight consecutive home games, the second-longest such streak in team history. Mario Lemieux scored in 13 straight during the 1995-96 season.
Malkin ''looks like he did in 2009 when (Sidney Crosby) went down and he kind of took over, that was kind of unbelievable," Pittsburgh defenseman Kris Letang said. "But his game is better than it was two years ago. I think he's playing great hockey, and this is the first time I've seen him being that dominant."
Pittsburgh held Tampa Bay's Steven Stamkos, the NHL's leading goal scorer, to just one shot and no points.
Ducks 5, Blue Jackets 3 • Corey Perry scored three goals for his fifth career hat trick to lead visiting Anaheim to victory. Teemu Selanne, who leads Anaheim in points in his 20th season, picked up an assist to tie Brett Hull for 21st on the NHL's career list at 1,391 points. Linemates Bobby Ryan had a goal and an assist and Ryan Getzlaf added three assists for the Ducks, playing the second game of a season-long, eight-game road trip. Jason Blake also scored for Anaheim.
Rangers 3, Capitals 2 • Ryan Callahan scored for the fifth time in four days and defenseman Ryan McDonagh snapped a second-period tie to lift New York to victory at home.
Panthers 4, Islanders 1 • Kris Versteeg, Tomas Fleischmann, Tyson Strachan and Jack Skille scored to lift visiting Florida.
Kings 4, Stars 2 • Jordan Nolan and Dwight King each scored their first career goal to help Los Angeles win on the road.
Associated Press
