DETROIT, Michigan -- The Detroit Red Wings scored four goals in a 3:14 span in the third period Wednesday night, lifting them to a 7-3 win over the St. Louis Blues.
The game was tied 3-3 with 7:34 remaining when Danny Cleary scored his second goal of the night, snapping a shot from the right side of the slot past St. Louis goalie Jaroslav Halak off a pass from behind the net by Mike Modano.
Henrik Zetterberg made it 5-3 just 46 seconds later. Zetterberg carried the puck into the St. Louis zone and cut to the left wing boards before circling back through the left faceoff circle and wristing a shot past Halak on the near side.
Brad Stuart's power play blast gave Detroit a three-goal lead with 5:30 left in the period. Tomas Holmstrom rounded out the scoring with a power play deflection of a Brian Rafalski shot 1:10 later.
Drew Miller was credited with the game's first goal when Halak stopped his shot, then swatted the puck out of the air and into his own net in an attempt to clear the rebound.
Brad Boyes tied things up 1:32 later, sliding a backhander under Detroit netminder Jimmy Howard's pad.
Brad Winchester's power play goal made it 2-1 for St. Louis at 8:16 of the second period. Winchester jammed the puck home from in front of the net off a feed from Andy McDonald.
Justin Abdelkader redirected a Rafalski pass between Halak's pads with 6:18 left in the period to tie the game back up.
Cleary's first of the night put Detroit back up with 3:30 remaining in the second but McDonald replied 37 seconds later to make it 3-3.
St. Louis outshot the Red Wings 36-31 but Howard made 33 saves to Halak's 24, including a toe save with less than a second remaining in the first period and the game tied.
The Red Wings were two-for-five on the power play. The Blues went one-for-three.
The seven goals scored is Detroit's highest offensive output of the season.
No real pre-game notes tonight. Miller is back in for Eaves, no other lineup changes.
I'll probably join in a little late, we'll see.
Wow. Don't see that very often.
That's two that the goalies want back. I've allowed goals like the one Howard just gave up, always p*sses me off.
Did that first unit even gain the zone on their entire PP shift?
Oh Nick, you can't miss that.
What a stop in the final second. Way to go, Jimmy.
Red Wings came out slow and were sloppy at times. Blues came ready to go and have been solid. Goalie gaffes at each end and it's 1-1.
Neither team is probably thrilled by that. The Wings won't like the late start and the Blues probably think they should be winning. If not for that last stop by Jimmy, they would be.
Random semi-on-topic question, but for all of you people with FSN-D/+, did your channels change this year? Ours did, and I haven't been able to watch a game on FSN-D + this season and I can't figure out if it's just our cable provider or not.
Right now both channels are playing the basketball game. I mean, really? What's up with that.
FS+ is still 901 for me. Unfortunately, 'cause I didn't want to see that PPG. Ugh.
I'm with Ken and Mickey, Pavs got away with one. But then the Blues just did on Hudler so f*ck 'em.
Justin! Homer-like tip.
We missed you, Rafalski.
We missed you, Rafalski.
Indeed, fantastic pass. And Ken and Mickey are right, that was a pass.
Damn, Cleary is on fire. And Raffy again with the hold at the line. Lucky, lucky bounce.
Mickey jinxed it. He had to say something about that shift being important. Who was supposed to be on MacDonald?
Blown opportunity with all those lost sticks.
Dammit, Modano! You've gotta score there.
Another awful power play there.
That was a quick, quick release. It was in before Halak knew. Way to go, Clears.
Zata! Breathing room!
Trying to listen to Ken Kal via USB modem. 97.1 comes in and out. Missed the last goal.
Trying to listen to Ken Kal via USB modem. 97.1 comes in and out. Missed the last goal.
Make that the last two goals.
That's how the power play is supposed to work. And that's why Stuie should be on the power play, like I've said.
Anyone surprised that the Blues start getting their asses kicked and they start getting violent?
GOOOOOAAAAAALLLLL!!!
I just heard a live goal on the internet in Jalalbad!!!
Trying to listen to Ken Kal via USB modem. 97.1 comes in and out. Missed the last goal.
Make that the last two goals.
I hope you're getting the feed now. Their commentary should be good.
Here's the defense of the hit on Kronwall: "Damn soft Euro, shouldn't have been admiring his pass."
Jesus, what a period. Hell, four minutes, four goals?
7-3 and Lids is still -1 for the game? Am I seeing things?
7-3 and Lids is still -1 for the game? Am I seeing things?
Crazy game. Really, the Wings haven't played that well.
Backes with a chop on Jimmy. Dick.
Well, time to go get some chow and coffee.
GO WINGS!!!
Have you ever seen a game where one team won by four and you're not sure they should have won at all?
That's kind of where I sit on tonight's game. Subtracting a four-minute period of complete domination, I wasn't very happy with how the Red Wings were playing.
Even after Danny Cleary broke the tie with about 7:30 left in the third, I was thinking that the game reminded me of Detroit's October 23 win over Anaheim, which I also said the Wings deserved to lose.
The first three powerplays were sloppy. The Wings were giving the puck away all over the place. The forecheck was awful. The first goal was pure luck.
Four minutes in the third period made none of that matter but it shouldn't be forgotten. The Red Wings did not play a great game here. Thankfully, they turned it on at the exact time that the Blues collapsed so it didn't matter.
We were at this game, too, and this time I saw the same game you saw (2 periods of awful, interspersed with an occasional bright spot, and one period of sheer brilliance)....NOT surprised that the Blues went "goon squad", and figure there will be hell to pay when they meet again. I disagreed with the 3 stars to an extent...thought maybe Jimmy should have been one of them.
Dan Cleary
Credit: Clark Rasmussen
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