DETROIT Excuse Red Wings goalie Manny Legace if hed rather have stayed in the locker room during the third period Monday night.
After facing zero shots in the second period of the Wings 2-1 victory, Legace just wanted to continue his warm-up.
I was freezing, actually, said Legace, who was busy in a 17-save first period, preserving a 1-0 Wings lead. I came in here and was absolutely frozen. I had the chills.
Legace was sufficiently thawed to make 12 more stops in the third period, allowing only Jarret Stolls power-play goal.
But the Wings held on, recovering from their loss to Colorado on Saturday.
It was very key to come back with a win, Legace said. We didnt want to let it snowball.
The last time the Wings held an opponent to no shots in a period? It was Jan. 24, 1996, when San Jose was held without a shot, also in the second period, of a 4-2 Wings victory.
But Legace put less stock in the second-period shot shutout than the rest of his teammates.
Theyre giving away those things (shots) like gold pieces, Legace said with a large smile. I had one shot on me, during a little scrimmage in front of me. Tell those guys upstairs to wake up.
Of holding the Oilers without a shot in the second, Coach Dave Lewis said: Thats very difficult. You dont see it happen very often. Its a rare occurrence.
It was the third time the Oilers had been held without a shot in a period. The last time was in Florida on Oct. 20, 2001.
Kris Draper (shorthanded) and Mathieu Schneider scored for the Wings, who have won five of their last seven games (5-1-1).
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