Red Wings Shutout Blues in Legace’s Return

Making his first start since November 25, goalie Manny Legace led the Detroit Red Wings to a win over the St. Louis Blues, earning a shutout as Detroit picked up a 3-0 victory.

Legace needed to make only 15 saves on the night to get his third shutout of the season and the ninth of his career.

Thursday’s game also marked the return of captain Steve Yzerman, playing his first game after missing nine with a groin injury.

The Red Wings opened the scoring at 9:42 of the first period. With St. Louis’ Dennis Wideman in the penalty box, Pavel Datsyuk fired a wrist shot from the top of the right circle that deflected off of former Red Wing Dallas Drake and into the net.

With 1:40 left in the period, Kris Draper scored a shorthanded goal to put Detroit up by two. Chris Chelios carried the puck in to the St. Louis zone down the left wing boards and Draper was left alone by Eric Brewer to cut through the slot. Chelios centered the puck and Draper was wide open to knock it into the net.

Henrik Zetterberg finished the game’s scoring just 1:45 into the third period. St. Louis goalie Curtis Sanford couldn’t hold onto the rebound of a Mikael Samuelsson shot and Zetterberg skated in for the rebound. He kicked the puck onto his stick to gain control and put it into the net.

Sanford stopped 28 of 31 shots against.

Detroit went one-for-three on the power play while St. Louis was held scoreless on four tries.

The Red Wings will be back in action Friday night when they visit the Nashville Predators.