DETROIT -- NHL history is full of goaltenders who have excelled during the regular season but failed to deliver in the playoffs.

Jimmy Howard's performance Tuesday night will go a long way toward making sure he doesn't join that dubious group.

Howard turned in his most clutch performance in the most important game of the season for the Detroit Red Wings. He stopped 29 shots for his first career postseason shutout in a 3-0 victory against the Phoenix Coyotes in Game 4 of the Western Conference quarterfinals at Joe Louis Arena.

Howard rebounded from a shaky performance in

, and his teammates supported him by working hard and playing smart as they evened the series 2-2 heading into Game 5 on Friday in Phoenix.

Henrik Zetterberg led the way with two goals, giving him five in the series, and Pavel Datsyuk also scored.

The Red Wings killed six Phoenix power plays, including a pair that overlapped for 17 seconds in the third period, during a one-goal difference at the time.

Yet, Howard is the main reason the Red Wings have new life.

"This time of year when a goalie has a night not as good as you're used to seeing, everybody starts questioning him, especially when you're a rookie," Red Wings defenseman Brad Stuart said. "We all knew he'd come back with a good effort. He was outstanding."

RED WINGS 3, COYOTES 0 Key play: Clinging to a 1-0 lead, the Red Wings killed consecutive penalties to Johan Franzen and Andreas Lilja in the third period. They overlapped by 17 seconds, giving Phoenix a five-on-three that could have been the turning point.



Hero: Jimmy Howard made 29 saves for his first career playoff shutout, rebounding nicely from a shaky performance in Game 3.



Goat: Lee Stempniak, a late-season acquisition who provided Phoenix with an offense boost, has been silent in the series with no goals and one assist. He posted a minus-1 rating in 16:41 on Tuesday.



Analysis: The Red Wings answered the bell by accomplishing pretty much everything they set out to do. They worked hard, limited their turnovers in the neutral zone and were physical on Phoenix's defense. Their key players (Howard, Henrik Zetterberg, Pavel Datsyuk, Nicklas Lidstrom) delivered, and everyone stepped up in a total team effort.

As much as Howard talked about letting go of Sunday's 4-2 loss, he acknowledged it wasn't easy.

"I was very upset with myself," Howard said. "I'm a competitive guy and I wanted to contribute for the guys. Coming into this game, I wanted to be mentally tough.

"I wanted to feel the puck early, and that was a key."

The crowd showed its support late in the second period, chanting "Jimmy!, Jimmy!" after Howard had his mask knocked off on a blast by Keith Yandle.

"Hearing that was a great boost," he said. "It really got me fired up. It's great knowing that the fans have my back.

"Yandle has a cannon. I was thinking I'd probably take this one right off the teeth if I had to."

With the Coyotes pressing for the tying goal, Datsyuk and Zetterberg scored 25 seconds apart in the waning minutes of the third period.

Datsyuk one-timed a pass from Johan Franzen past Ilya Bryzgalov at 15:53. Zetterberg then wrapped up the scoring at 16:18.

The Red Wings worked much harder and were more patient in navigating through the neutral zone than they were in Game 3. They also were more physical than the Coyotes, who played without injured captain Shane Doan.

Detroit had 43 hits to Phoenix's 27.

"I think we had more team speed," Detroit captain Nicklas Lidstrom said. "I didn't think the neutral zone was an obstacle for us. We got the puck in at the right time and kept going after them and kept skating instead of trying to stick-handle through the neutral zone where they can really clog it up."

Zetterberg snapped a scoreless tie on the power play at 15:33 of the second period, deflecting in a shot from the point by Niklas Kronwall. A video review showed that Zetterberg's stick was below the level of the crossbar.

The Red Wings followed that up with a solid third period, something they failed to do in their two losses.

"We definitely needed a kick in the butt," Detroit's Dan Cleary said. "It was a must-win for us. We played determined and hard. We played patient. We didn't give them really anything, and when we did, Howie was strong."

Said Red Wings coach Mike Babcock: "We needed to win tonight, no question about it. This is why you're in sports, for games like this, you got to bring it when it counts. That's what Howie has to do if he's going to be a top-notch goalie in the NHL."

Howard knows adversity builds character. It is what he and the team faced all season.

"That's what I told myself," Howard said. "This is only going to make me better, if I can respond and attack it and not let it affect me."

He also realizes they have a long way to go.

"I've got to continue to step up and play big for us," Howard said. "I can't relax and I can't get comfortable out there."