Red Wings Close ’07 with Loss to Blues

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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.

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