DETROIT, Michigan -- Defenseman Brian Rafalski returned to the Detroit lineup Wednesday night, helping the Red Wings earn a 4-1 win over the St. Louis Blues by scoring a goal.
Pavel Datsyuk also scored twice and Johan Franzen has a goal. Erik Johnson was the lone scorer for the Blues.
Datsyuk opened the game's scoring 5:28 into the first period. Tomas Kopecky fired a shot on net from the right faceoff circle, which former Red Wing goalie Manny Legace kicked aside. Datsyuk got to the puck, though, and threw a bad-angle shot back out front, deflecting off the stick of Brad Boyes and into the net.
Johnson would tie the game on a St. Louis power play with 1:33 left in the period, firing a shot from the blue line that was tipped by Detroit blueliner Andreas Lilja and bounced off of Dominik Hasek before finding its way in.
Franzen put the Wings back out in front midway through the second period, banging in a bouncing rebound as he fell to the ice from the front of the net at 9:48.
Rafalski gave Detroit a two goal lead at 6:11 of the third. He gained the St. Louis zone and slowed up to let trailing players catch up with the play, then snapped a shot on net that surprised Legace and went over his shoulder before he could react.
Datsyuk's second of the night wrapped things up as he scored into the empty net after a takeaway in the neutral zone.
The Blues scored the game's only power play goal on one of their three chances with the extra attacker. The Red Wings were scoreless in four tries.
Hasek made 18 saves on 19 shots in his third start in a row while Legace stoppped 28 of the 31 shots he faced.
Raffy is back with the Wings taking on the Blues tonight. Meech sits with Ericsson staying in. I would have scratched Lilja instead.
I am liking the Lilja idea 
Please tell me Ken Daniels did not just refer to something as Chuck Norris-like. D: Will people ever learn?
I am excited and somewhat doubtful. Let's see Dr. Fil score again tonight considering they switched the stations so I was not able to watch the previous game (too bad my VCR isn't magical and detect the Red Wings games & automatically tape) ):
There's one of those weak rebounds by Legace we're so used to.
Actually, it was a pretty good stop on Kopecky's shot. Datsyuk did a great job of corralling it and getting it back on net.
Phantom power play (could have called it a slash if they really wanted to) and the Blues score. That was important for them, if the Wings got the second goal it would have been big.
Datsyuk is pretty stellar.
I think they should have called it a slash, though. Stupid goal. =/
Franzen on his way down to the ice flips it in. That's part of how the Wings want him to use his size, fight to the front of the net and do things there.
Edit: I totally said that before Mickey.
Great shot by Raffy. Welcome back!
Rafalski had some good shots tonight, happy to see he got one.
& Datsyuk takes another assurance goal with the empty net. Wings up by three with 1:29 left.
And this one should be over. Good to get another win, get rolling again.
And the Blues do their usual three-on-one, p*ssy little bitches thing.
With the win, the WINGS extend their Conference lead to 7 points (and 2 games still in hand) over Dallas, who lost to Phoenix.
Great game, loved the scoop slam finish by Rafalski!
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