BY JASON LA CANFORA 
Free Press Sports Writer 
Sergei Fedorov's battle with the fans of Detroit is nearly a month old, and a victor is emerging. 

For weeks, Fedorov could do nothing right. Each scoring chance, each flash of speed and skill, was met with disdain by the Joe Louis Arena faithful. His 59-game contract impasse and trade demands had tarnished his image the minds of many. 

Fedorov vowed to out-will each and every detractor. He contended that his actions on the ice would endear him to Hockeytown once again. 

That time might be now. 

Fedorov gave the fans another strong effort Thursday night, scoring a goal in the Wings' chippy 3-3 tie with Anaheim. It stretched Detroit's unbeaten streak to five games (3-0-2), their fifth such streak this season. 

Three times, the Wings took the lead; three times, the Ducks tied the score. 

Brendan Shanahan, twice robbed by Mikhail Shtalenkov's glove, put Detroit up, 3-2, with about 16 minutes to play, scoring his team-high 27th goal. (It also was his 15th goal on the power play -- second-most in the NHL.) 

The Ducks quickly pulled even, as they had all night. This time, Pavel Trnka fired low from the left point for his second goal of the season. 

The Wings had a tie, but Fedorov had a victory. 

"I think (the crowd) sounded pretty positive," Fedorov said. "Whatever it takes to win over each one, that's what I'll do." 

He began the night by walloping Jason Marshall from behind -- a hit not unlike the one for which Martin Lapointe was suspended two games last week. That drew cheers from the fans and a five-minute major penalty from the officials. 

"There was a lot of chippiness -- sticks in the face," Anaheim coach Pierre Page said. "They're fighting hard for first overall, and we're fighting hard for our life." 

Fedorov said he knew Marshall's head was down but he couldn't stop himself. And he's not worried about a suspension. 

"If I have a chance I always follow through," Fedorov said. "I'm trying to give my game a little flavor." 

But Fedorov won't become the toast of the town with rough play. This is about production. Just score, baby. 

And he did -- about 15 minutes into the game -- fighting off a check, watching two Ducks inexplicably depart his side, and smacking a one-timer. Shtalenkov, Fedorov's Russian Olympic teammate, caught a piece of the puck but could not prevent Fedorov's third goal in 13 games, and his second in the past two. 

"He had a lot of their better chances tonight," Anaheim associate coach Walt Kyle said. "He's one of the best players in the world.... I don't think he's lost a thing." 

Fedorov was centering a potent line, with Steve Yzerman and Shanahan, while the rest of his Russian teammates skated together. Dmitri Mironov, acquired from Anaheim on Tuesday, was paired with Slava Fetisov; they formed a five-man unit with forwards Igor Larionov, Slava Kozlov and Darren McCarty. 

Coach Scotty Bowman juggled the rest of his defense combos, with Mathieu Dandenault frequently joining the group. The units looked strong, and the puck rarely left the Ducks' zone. Still, Anaheim tied the game with 34.6 seconds left in the first period, when a fluttering puck bounced off the top of goalie Kevin Hodson's head and sat on the goal line. As Hodson tried to discover its whereabouts, Travis Green poked it in. 

The Red Wings, topping 40 shots for the second straight game, responded on the power play. Kozlov took a pass from Larionov at the side of the crease, and stuffed the puck in off the far post. 

Lapointe struck again, crushing Ruslan Salei, and Salei, who had been plastered along the boards by Chris Chelios on Wednesday, hobbled back to the dressing room once more. 

The Ducks were being dominated. Yet they tied it again when Jeff Nielsen escaped Fetisov's legendary hip check at the blue line and darted to the net. J. F. Jomphe popped in the rebound for his first goal this season. 

Fedorov's offensive production was done, but the reclamation project continued. In the third period, he chugged the length of the ice, slid through the Ducks' defense and slammed hard into the net. He didn't score, but ... 

"At first it hurt hitting the post," Fedorov said. "Then I get up and said, 'Oh, yeah, something pretty good is happening. I noticed something.' " 

He was being cheered, loudly. Not a boo in the house.