Losing Streak at Four as Blues Beat Wings

The St. Louis Blues’ 3-2 victory was their first over the Red Wings since October of 2003, a string of eight games. The Wings winless streak has now hit four, after losing all three of their games on the previous road trip.

The teams played a scoreless first period to start the game. Early in the second period the Blues got a 5-on-3 opportunity for 1:06, but Manny Legace made a few nice saves to keep the game scoreless. Then at 7:32 after both penalties expired, Jamal Mayers put the Blues on the board first scoring on a rebound off of Legace’s glove. Mayers was standing right next to the left post while Legace came out to play the original shot from the left point by Eric Weinrich.

The Wings then tied the scored at 15:43 of the second. Mikael Samuelsson broke across the Blues’ blue line with Jiri Fischer on his left. Samuelsson passed across to Fischer who then sent it back to Samuelsson as he reached an empty crease and net after Blues’ goalie Curtis Sanford came out to cut off the angle. It was the first goal the Blues had given up in over 106 minutes of play.

In the third period the Blues scored twice only one minute and 43 seconds apart to go up 3-1. The first goal was scored at the 7:00 mark by Mike Sillinger who one-timed a pass from Petr Cajanek who was behind the goal. Sillinger had moved into the slot and put the puck between Legace’s pads. The second goal was scored by Warren, Michigan native Doug Weight on a wrist shot from the left circle on the power play.

The Blues then shut down the Wings 5-on-3 opportunity that lasted for 1:32, mostly due to some nice saves from Sanford and one shot that hit a post.

As time was running out in regulation, Wings’ coach Mike Babcock pulled Legace for an extra attacker. With the man advantage at 19:08 Brendan Shanahan scored from the right circle off a pass from Henrik Zetterberg who brought the play into the Blues’ zone.

Blues’ goalie Curtis Sanford was impressive, stopping 32 of the Wings’ 34 shots. Legace stopped 27 of the Blues’ 30 shots. The Blues power play had been struggling, but they managed one goal during their seven opportunities. The Wings were scoreless on their six power plays chances.

The Wings will face the Nashville Predators next on Monday night at Joe Louis Arena.