Gaffes Cost Red Wings in 3-2 Loss to Flames

Two Calgary goals off mistakes by the Red Wings were enough to lift the Flames to a 3-2 win over Detroit on Wednesday.

Steve Begin broke a 1-1 tie at 2:28 of the third period when Detroit netminder went behind the net to tee up the puck for defenseman Jonathan Ericsson. As Howard came to the side of the net, Ericsson played the puck but sent it right back into Howard’s skates. It went off both of Howard’s feet before Begin got there to poke at it, sending it off the post and back off Howard again before sliding into the net.

Begin would make it 3-1 with 7:07 remaining on another botched play. With the Red Wings shorthanded, the Flames sent the puck into the Detroit zone. No defenders came back to get it, so Howard went behind the net again, this time whiffing on his clearing attempt. Begin was there to scoop up the puck and wrap around, throwing it into the open net.

Johan Franzen pulled the Wings to within a goal with 2:42 remaining lobbing a bouncing shot from the neutral zone in on Calgary goalie Miikka Kiprusoff, who misplayed it as it slipped through his legs to make it 3-2.

Curtis Glencross had opened the scoring with 6:32 remaining in the first, knocking the rebound of a Cory Sarich chance past Howard.

Gustav Nyquist tied things up with 7:29 left in the second taking a feed in the left faceoff circle from Joakim Andersson in the opposite corner for a one-timer into the open side of the net.

Kiprusoff finished the night with 36 saves on 38 shots. Howard made 14 saves on 17 shots.

Begin’s second was the only special teams goal of the night. Detroit had five power plays to Calgary’s one.