Penguins Score 4 Goals In 2nd Period To Rout Red Wings, 7-2
LARRY LAGE
AP Hockey Writer
DETROIT (AP) — Carl Hagelin scored twice and Phil Kessel had a goal and four assists, helping the Pittsburgh Penguins rout the Detroit Red Wings 7-2 Saturday.
Pittsburgh boosted its chances of earning a 10th straight trip to the playoffs and hurt Detroit's quest to extend its postseason streak to 25.
The Penguins have won seven of eight, staying ahead of the New York Islanders for the third guaranteed spot from the Metropolitan Division.
The Red Wings started the day a point behind Boston for third place in the Atlantic. Detroit is also in a closely contested race with the Islanders and Philadelphia to be the two wild-card teams that earn spots when the season ends in two weeks.
Pittsburgh's Marc-Andre Fleury made 21 saves.
The Red Wings pulled Petr Mrazek late in the second after he gave up four goals on 15 shots in the period. Jimmy Howard didn't fare much better, giving up three goals.
The Penguins scored a season-high seven goals and Detroit gave up seven for the first time this season.
Andreas Athanasiou put Detroit ahead midway through the first period, but a fired-up crowd at Joe Louis Arena didn't have much to be happy about the rest of the day. The fans who stuck around until the end booed as the Red Wings skated off the ice.
Chris Kunitz tied the game 20 seconds into the second, then Kris Letang, Hagelin and Kessel followed with goals in the period to put the Penguins ahead 4-1.
Detroit pulled within two goals 5-plus minutes in the third, then Eric Fehr, Hagelin and Nick Bonino scored to restore the lopsided score in the final period. Bonino also had four assists.
NOTES: The Penguins swept the season series 3-0, scoring 13 goals against Mrazek and getting him benched twice. ... Detroit, which had won three of four games, hosts Buffalo on Monday night. ... Penguins Ben Lovejoy played after missing 16 straight games with an upper-body injury.
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