DETROIT, Michigan -- The Detroit Red Wings closed out the 2007 calendar year with a shutout loss to the St. Louis Blues, their first blanking of the season and their first loss in their annual New Years Eve game since 1998.
Former Red Wing goalie Manny Legace earned the shutout, stopping 31 shots. Legace had been pulled from the crease the last time the two teams met, surrendering four goals.
Rookie defenseman Erik Johnson scored at 5:47 of the third period to get the Blues out in front. His shot from the blue line got past a screened Dominik Hasek and found its way into the net.
Lee Stempniak added an empty-net goal with 22 seconds left in the game to wrap up the scoring.
Dominik Hasek - now winless against St. Louis this season - made 21 saves on 22 shots in the loss.
Neither team scored a power play goal. Detroit had four chances with the extra attacker to the Blues' five.
The Red Wings will open 2008 on Wednesday when they host the Dallas Stars in the first game of a home-and-home series. Henrik Zetterberg is expected to return to the lineup in one of those two games.
We close out the year with the traditional New Years Eve game and I'm p*ssed as hell that I'm probably going to miss it. If I was going to be home to watch, I'd say it sucks that the FSN guys won't be covering it, 'cause they always have fun with this game.
Hasek gets the start, his second of the season against St. Louis. He lost that first game, with Osgood going 2-1 in the other three games to keep the season series between the teams even.
No one's returning from injury for Detroit. Jackman is still out for the Blues and you can expect them to be a bit p*ssed about it.
The Red Wings haven't lost on December 31 since 1998. Since Ted Nugent forced them out of the Joe in 1996 - the only year since 1954 (aside from the two lockout years) that they haven't played on the last day of the year - the Red Wings are 7-1-1 (the last one being a tie in 1999 against Chicago, not a shootout/overtime loss). Overall, they're 32-21-8. They're 3-0 against St. Louis on this day.
>:| I was mad when I found out this afternoon it was going to be on versus!!!!
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I thought it was cool last year when they were looking at the fans that got all dressed up and crazy. ): And....versus just plain sucks when they broadcast anyways.
>:| I was mad when I found out this afternoon it was going to be on versus!!!!
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I thought it was cool last year when they were looking at the fans that got all dressed up and crazy. ): And....versus just plain sucks when they broadcast anyways.
You're right about Versus, I can hear it sucking now and the game is three hours away.
Final score prediction: Wings 4 Blues 3. Happy New Year to all and to all a good night.
Confirmed, I'll be missing the game. The house I'm at doesn't get Versus. So p*ssed right now.
Confirmed, I'll be missing the game. The house I'm at doesn't get Versus. So p*ssed right now.
Ignore everyone, steal the computer, and listen to it on the NHL radio? 
Ah well, I got to get downstairs before I miss the game!
Happy new year, everyone.
): This game is boring.
No Internet here. Only my phone, which is dying, so I'm out in the car charging it. I somehow found the St. Louis radio feed. Ridiculous.
Blues announcers really enthusiastic about that goal.
I saw the game slip away when what's his face scored the first goal. =/
): Boo, what a sucky day it is today, I almost welcome the new year with open arms, but at the same time repel it at full force.
Stats make it look like it all went downhill after the first half of the first period. About the same time this party started to suck.
The penalities in this game were ridiculous! Again the only way to beat the wings is with the refs!
I was at the JOE in person for this one. A disappointing loss to say the least. I thought the WINGS overall effort was good. Seemed the BLUES played a strong game as well and were able to stifle the WINGS offense. Both LEGACE and HASEK made some really good saves.
Hopefully it did not ruin your New Years Eve
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