Vs. LOS ANGELES

@ Joe Louis Arena. Detroit, Michigan. Attendance: 19,986
Game 2 of 5 Vs. Los Angeles (0-0-1) Next Game Vs. Los Angeles: 2/3/00

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Kozlov carries Red Wings


By Ted Kulfan / The Detroit News

    BOSTON -- It was not what the Red Wings needed. Another forward injured. And by the way Vyacheslav Kozlov skated to the bench with four minutes to go in the second period Saturday, after a hit by the Bruins' Kyle McLaren, it did not look good.
    "I was very sore," said Kozlov, who said he had a charley horse. "That's why I went to the bench immediately. But after I rested I felt better and I wanted to play the third period."
    He sure did play, getting his second goal of the game, drawing a penalty and leading the Wings to a 5-4 victory at the Fleet Center.
    The Wings got their first victory on the back end of consecutive games. They are 1-3-1 in those situations this season.
    "With all the players injured, this was a nice win," said Kozlov, who has nine goals this season and three in the last two games. "The young players have been very helpful."
    Nicklas Lidstrom, Steve Duchesne and Steve Yzerman (power play) also scored for the Wings. Yzerman has scored in five straight games.
    Manny Legace got his third straight start in goal -- all victories. He didn't play his best game, but he was good enough to win.
    "When you get called up to the NHL and win three straight games it does a lot for your ego and confidence," Legace said. "I was surprised I got the start. I was just hoping to get one start up here."
    Duchesne gave the Wings a 4-3 lead on a goal that was set up nicely by Stacy Roest. Yzerman's power-play goal made it 5-3.
    Kozlov didn't believe McLaren's hit, which appeared to be a knee-on-knee collision, was dirty.
    "There were three or four guys around there," Kozlov said. "I couldn't tell if it was bad hit. I was fortunate."
   

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