Recap: Red Wings 3, Hurricanes 1

The Carolina Hurricanes approached this most recent five game homestand as one of importance but lost another game, this time by a score of 3-1 to the Detroit Red Wings on Sunday evening in front of 13,489 at the PNC.

The loss gives the Canes a 1-3 record in this homestand and keeps them in last place in the Eastern Conference with just 19 points overall, (8-15-3).

Things didn't start out well as just two minutes and change into the game Tim Gleason was called for highsticking and was given four minutes to sit in the box.  The home team was able to kill the penalty but of course that was not the start head coach Bill Peters was hoping for.

Both teams battled back and forth until Pavel Datsyuk created a play and made an incredible shot from the slot area to give the Red Wings a 1-0 lead.   It was classic Datsyuk.

Exactly two minutes later, Tomas Tatar sent a puck toward the net that deflected off Andrej Sekera and got past Cam Ward to make it, 2-0 and the Canes went to the first intermission behind the eight ball.

About 12 minutes into the second period, Tatar scored again, this time as he was set up beautifully by Datsyuk, who had a hand in each of Detroit's goals.  With the score 3-0, the Hurricanes really had their work cut out for them, especially against a puck control team like Detroit.

The Canes got one up on the board later in the second when Jay McClement got his stick on a puck that Tim Gleason fired on net.  It was McClement's first of the season.

After a scoreless third period, Wings backup goalie Petr Mrazek earned his third win of the season and the Wings won their second game in as many nights, having just won the night before against New York.

The Canes will have their shot at a back-to-back as they will close out this homestand and face the New Jersey Devils on Monday night.

Game Notes:

• Eric Staal was hit by a puck late in the game and was seen using crutches afterward in the dressingroom.  Coach Peters had no update on his status.
• The Canes outshot the Wings, 35-22, but the Wings had the better chances.  Jeff Skinner led Carolina with 10 shots.  Victor Rask was next with five.
• Gleason had a team high three hits.  The Canes were credited with 12 for the game.