"Danny Cleary looked exhausted, as if contemplating how to get up from the stool near his locker.

But sore left leg and all, Cleary had a slight smile on his face after the Red Wings' 4-3 shootout victory Thursday over Vancouver, a game in which he scored a goal and assisted on another.

"It was a big game for us against a top team on the road," said Cleary, who played 16 minutes, 33 seconds. "A good team game for sure."

And how's the leg, Danny?

"It's a little sore, it got sore as the game went on, but to be honest with you it's easier skating than walking," said Cleary, who added playfully to the reporters around him, "but it's OK, thanks for asking.""