NEW YORK, 10 March 2004 — Fredrik Modin netted with 7:39 left in regulation time to earn the Tampa Bay Lightning a 1-1 tie with the host Detroit Red Wings in a showdown between the two top teams in the NHL on Monday.
The tie helped the Lightning clinch the Southeast Division, becoming the first team to wrap up a division title this season.
Tampa Bay also leads the NHL with 91 points, one ahead of the Red Wings, who top the Western Conference. The Lightning’s eight-game winning streak was snapped but they remain unbeaten in nine outings.
Manny Legace was outstanding in Detroit’s goal, making 37 saves as the Red Wings welcomed back defenseman Derian Hatcher.
Hatcher, signed as a free agent from the Dallas Stars in the off-season, played for the first time since tearing knee ligaments in the third game of the season.
The Red Wings, already without centers Kris Draper and Pavel Datsyuk due to injury, may have also lost newly-acquired Robert Lang.
Lang, second in the NHL in scoring after being acquired from the Washington Capitals Feb. 27, did not play in the third period because of an upper body injury, coach Dave Lewis told reporters.
Tomas Holmstrom gave Detroit a 1-0 lead with 4:41 remaining in the second period, beating Tampa Bay goalie Nikolai Khabibulin with a high wrist shot on the glove side.
In Washington, Patrick Lalime had to record only 13 saves as the Ottawa Senators picked up first-period goals from Chris Phillips and Martin Havlat to beat the Capitals 4-1.
In Columbus, Aaron Ward had the first two-goal game of his career as the Carolina Hurricanes overcame the Blue Jackets 4-1.
In Anaheim, Saku Koivu, Michael Ryder and Richard Zednik all notched a goal and an assist to lead the Montreal Canadiens past the Mighty Ducks 5-2.
In Vancouver, Milan Hejduk scored three goals as the Colorado Avalanche routed the Canucks 9-2.
