DETROIT (AP) -The Columbus Blue Jackets went from their worst to best in a matter of 48 hours. The Detroit Red Wings settled for their worst, again.
Fredrik Modin scored twice and Columbus beat Detroit 5-1 on Friday night, handing the NHL-leading Red Wings their fifth-straight loss.
Rick Nash had a goal and two assists and Nikolai Zherdev added a goal and an assist for Columbus. Ron Hainsey scored the other goal and Dick Tarnstrom had two assists. Pascal Leclaire made 20 saves.
Columbus dropped a 7-2 decision to the Chicago Blackhawks at home in its previous game.
"We play our worst game of the year and follow it up with our best game of the year," Blue Jackets coach Ken Hitchcock said.
Detroit seemed out of it from the opening face-off.
"We were at our worst tonight, for sure," Red Wings coach Mike Babcock said. "We didn't have any opportunity to win this game from the start."
Pavel Datsyuk scored for Detroit and Chris Osgood stopped nine shots before being pulled.
Columbus jumped out to a 3-0 first-period lead. Nash opened the scoring with his 30th goal when he put in a rebound on the power play 7:29 into the game. Modin made it 2-0 with 6:55 left in the first period when he skated between Brett Lebda and Andreas Lilja, who fell. Modin went in alone and beat Osgood. Zherdev scored on a backhand shot from the slot with 5:01 left in the opening period for his 23rd goal.
"The first period the other night was pretty much as bad as it can get," the Blue Jackets' David Vyborny said. "But this was a great first period against the best team in the league."
Modin got his second goal and fifth of the season when he tipped in Adam Foote's shot from the point with 8:42 left in the second period.
Modin has played only 13 games this year because of back spasms and a hamstring injury.
"Getting a couple of goals really helps your confidence," said Modin, whose goal also sent Osgood to the bench in favor of Jimmy Howard. It's the second consecutive game that Howard has replaced Osgood.
Datsyuk foiled Leclaire's shutout bid 1:25 into the third period with a shot from the left circle that slipped between the goaltender's body and arm for Datsyuk's 21st goal.
"We're not generating any offense. We're not generating any chances," Detroit captain Nicklas Lidstrom said. "We're not playing very well 5-on-5.
"It's going to be tough for us now, we're going to Dallas and Colorado, so we've got to find a way to get it done."
Hainsey restored the four-goal lead with a power-play goal at 4:59. It was his seventh of the season.
Notes: Detroit G Dominik Hasek missed his second game because of a sore hip flexor. ... Columbus RW Jared Boll didn't play because of an illness. ... Red Wings' D Brian Rafalski missed the game because of a sore groin. ... Hitchcock said C Sergei Fedovov, who has missed 13 games because of post-concussion syndrome, will return Sunday at St. Louis.
As most of you may know, the wings took a beating tonight as columbus wiped the floor with them in their 5 - 1 victory.
Things have been awful in mo-town as of late. The official attendance was 20,066, but I'll be damned if even 3/4 of those people were there. The building was at least half empty the entire game.
I knew this game was not going to be pretty. With a lineup like Lidstrom, Chelios, Lilja, Lebda, Meech and Quincey. Chelios played 23 minutes, Lebda played 22 minutes and Lilja played 21 minutes! Hopefully after this, Howard gets to start on Sunday as Osgood has been pulled both times in these past two games.
I knew this game was not going to be pretty. With a lineup like Lidstrom, Chelios, Lilja, Lebda, Meech and Quincey. Chelios played 23 minutes, Lebda played 22 minutes and Lilja played 21 minutes! Hopefully after this, Howard gets to start on Sunday as Osgood has been pulled both times in these past two games.
Isn't Hasek due back soon? I heard he might be back for Sunday's game.
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No, Hasek is at least 2 weeks away. His hip is still wonky and he hasn't even had practices yet.
Injury update (in order of closest return)
Rafalski - Groin. Could be back this week.
Kronwall - Clavicle (separated shoulder). Is practicing, but doesn't have the arm strength yet. 1-2 weeks yet.
Hasek - Hip. DTD, but needs to get some good practices in first.
Cleary - Face. Still over a month out.
I am thinking he will just practice with the team, maybe put him in a game or two. I think he should just wait tell playoffs so he doesn't hurt his hip again.
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Now that the wings slump is over lets started winning games again!!!
Better luck next time
Better luck next time
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