‘Lightning’ speed propels Wings’ Athanasiou

(Photo: Sharon Ellman, AP)Dallas – Pavel Datsyuk corrected the reporter instantly

No, rookie Andreas Athanasiou doesn’t have speed.

“Lightning,” is how it was described by Datsyuk, the savvy veteran who joked he used to have that kind of speed (he didn’t).

Like a flash, a quick strike, Athanasiou seems to hit high speed in an instant and gets the defense on its heels.

He did it so many times Monday, in the Red Wings’ 3-2 overtime victory in Dallas, scoring two goals, drawing two penalties, and seemingly intimidating the Stars every time he stepped on to the ice.

But it was Athanasiou’s second goal, a spectacular show of speed and skill – capped by an inside-out move and nifty backhand goal –…