Through the Ice - Blues @ Wings

Blues @ Red Wings

The St. Louis Blues (9-5-3) entered this game having lost 4 in a row, and through the first 40 minutes of this one, looked as if they would be able to end that slide. The Blues poured on the offense, but Jimmy Howard stood tall, stopping 23 of 26 shots through the second period. Drew Miller scored first for the Wings on a freak accident with Jaroslav Halak accidentally putting the puck in his own net. The Blues netminder was average through two allowing 3 goals on 17 shots. Meanwhile, Howard stopped 21 of 24 shots through two keeping Detroit close, and stopped 33 out of 36 shots launched by St. Louis to earn his tenth win on the season. Though the game was tight on the scoreboard, the Blues were the better team. But, that's why they play

the game! Detroit (12-3-1) came flying out of the gates in the third and final frame scoring 4 goals in less than 4 minutes! Cleary, Zetterberg, Stuart, and Holmstrom netted goals (2 with the man advantage), and led their team to a convincing win over a Central Division rival. Howard stopped all 12 Blues shots in the period, while Halak allowed 4 goals on the 14 shots by the Wings.

Brad Boyes, Brad Winchester, and Andy McDonald scored for the Blues (once on the man advantage). McDonald's goal came quickly after Cleary gave the Wings the 3-2 lead; only 37 seconds to be exact. Franzen threw the puck out in front of Howard, and it

deflected behind the net. Boyes picked up the puck quickly, and sent it out in front of the net where McDonald handled it nicely and tucked it behind the Wings netminder. The teams went to the lockers tied 3-3 in what seemed to be a game slowly tilting in St. Louis' favor. Frustration set in for the Blues, who were put a man short 4 times in the third period alone. Detroit capatilized twice, but one of their 5 on 4 PP's looked more like even strength given the effort the Blues PK's showed. All in all, the Blues looked good. The bounces didn't go their way, but credit the Wings with their ability to find a way to win again. Good game in the Joe, lot's of excitement!


STAR SELECTIONS

1st Danny Cleary
GOALS: 2 | PTS: 2
ASST: 0 | SOG: 3
+/-: 2

2nd Brian Rafalski
GOALS: 0 | PTS: 3
ASST: 3 | SOG: 2
+/-: 2

3rd Justin Abdelkader
GOALS: 1 | PTS: 2
ASST: 1 | SOG: 2
+/-: 2

Notes:

*Dan Cleary scored his 8th and 9th goals on the year. He also brought his goal scoring streak to 6 games. He is currently Detroit's top goal scorer.

*Red Wings defenseman, Niklas Kronwall, was blindsided by Cam Janssen in the third period. Kronwall didn't appear to be injured on the play, and Janssen was not penalized for the hit. But, since these types of hits are being targeted by Gary Bettman, the NHLPA, and all GM's, expect the League to address this hit in some way.

*Quote of the game: "What an explosion, four goals in three minutes in the third for Detroit!" - Mickey Redmond, Fox Sports Detroit

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