Blues @ Wings

In a rare treat, the Red Wings are on Versus tonight. Sounds like a good time for a live play-by-play blog.

Ville Leino still playing in place of the injured Henrik Zetterberg. Scored a nice goal in his debut, we'll see what he can do in his first NHL home game at Joe Louis Arena.

Funny note from the pregame skate: All the Red Wings came out in their home whites and rookie Leino was wearing his away red helmet. In typical sports hazing, none of the other Red Wings pointed out the new guys error and even Keith Tkachuk had a good laugh at Ville's expense.

Shots on goal after 1: STL 3 DET 2
*Set NHL record for lowest shots in a period.

Maltby scores to make it 1:0 with Draper adding an assist in his 1,000th game.

St. Louis responds with a fluke goal as it hits Lidstrom and gets caught in his equipment, when the puck finally falls out, T.J. Oshie bunted a knuckler past a shocked Osgood.

The Hockey Gods gave us our weak goal back as Hossa gains the blue line and fires a rising wrist shot at Legace, who gets a piece of it, but lets it drop behind him and barely over the goal line. I am pretty sure if Manny let that puck go, it would have cleared the net with ease. Oh well...2-1 Wings.

Super Rookie Patrik Berglund takes advantage of a bad penalty by the Wings, and scores a nice Power Play goal on a cross crease one-timer that Ozzie tipped with his glove, but couldn't handle it. 2-2

Hossa with a sweet toe drag as if he is planning to go inside on the Blues defender and sticks to the outside only to fire a rocket snapshot past Legace. If I were coaching the Blues, I'd consider pulling Manny. Ville Leino earns an assist...3-2 Detroit.

Sounds like Andy Murray can read my mind... Legacy is out, and Mason is in. Still 7:30 remaining in the second. So much for a boring first period. 5 goals in the first 13 mins of play to start the second. Shots are 9-8 Detroit. Not exactly a defensive battle.

3-2 after 2 periods. Shots are 10-10. I'm not going to use the current rash of injuries as an excuse, but this does not look like the dominant Wings team I'm familiar with.

Sloppy line change leads to a too many men on the ice call and Detroit takes to the penalty kill. With Hudler in the box serving the bench minor, Lilja rubs out David Backes with a solid check, but receives a 5 min major for boarding and a game misconduct. The Wings are staring down the barrel of a 5 on 3, and a full 5 minute disadvantage to kill.

Surviving the 5 on 3, and killing off four and a half minutes of the major to Lilja St. Louis scores on the Power Play. 3-3.

Finally killed off the major but as a result of playing the majority of the period short handed, the shots on goal are 24-11 for the visiting Blues. Mason has been virtually untested since taking over in the second.

Detroit with a flurry of shots late in the game but Mason is equal to the task. Looks like we're going to overtime. Shots are 28-19 St. Louis.

Osgood made some stellar saves in the extra frame to keep the Wings in this one late. Shots 33-21 Blues. Lets go to the shootout.

Detroit is 5-1 in the shootout this season. You'd think with an abundance of skill upfront, the Wings should like their chances.


First Shooter
DET - Datsyuk - save.
STL - Oshie - save.

Second Shooter
DET - Hudler - back hand shelf. SCORES.
DET - Boyes - backhand forehand SCORES.

Third Shooter
DET - Hossa - Wicked snapshot glove side. SCORES.
STL - Perron - Brutal attempt, lost control. save.

Final 4-3 Detroit.

It's not pretty, but I'll take it.