Detroit: Justin Abdul Kader scored early in the second period and again in the final seconds, while Jimmy Howard finished off a shutout that Jonas Gustavsson started for the Detroit Red Wings in a 2-0 victory over the Vancouver Canucks on Monday night.
Two Red Wings goalies combined on a shutout for the first time since October 27, 2001, when Manny Legace and Dominik Hasek did it in a 1-0 win at Nashville, according to STATS.
Gustavsson started and stopped all eight shots he faced in the first period, but didn’t return to play because of dizziness. Howard had 16 saves and stopped David Booth on a penalty shot.
The Canucks had coach John Tortorella behind their bench and forward Henrik Sedin on the ice after both missed six games.
Tortorella was suspended for 15 days by the NHL for his conduct after a brawl in a game against the Calgary Flames. Tortorella went to Calgary’s locker room following the first period, which began with several fights.
Sedin had been out since he was unable to finish the January 18 game against Calgary because of an upper-body injury.
The Red Wings wanted to rest Howard, who had played two straight games following a four-game absence after aggravating a left knee injury, but he was forced into action.
Howard helped Detroit keep their slim lead early in the second period when he denied Booth’s penalty shot.