DETROIT – The Detroit Red Wings stopped the St. Louis Blues' five-game winning streak Thursday night, stunning the home crowd in dramatic fashion with a late goal in the final seconds of overtime.
The Blues were poised to complete the comeback after falling behind 2-0 and rallying late in the 3rd period. Ken Hitchcock pulled Brian Elliott for the extra attacker and Alexander Steen scored with 48 seconds remaining to send it into extra time.
Pavel Datsyuk made sure his Red Wings didn't have to go to a shootout when he beat Elliott short side with 2.2 seconds left in the overtime period.
The Red Wings definitely didn't want to go to a shootout because the skills competition hasn't been kind to them this season -- they are 1 for 7. Goalie Petr Mrazek, who was solid all game, stood tall to give his team a chance at the OT victory. He had to be strong as St. Louis outshot Detroit 27-24 (9-2 in the 1st period) and tallied 22 blocked shots.
Things don't get any easier for the Red Wings when they host the Nashville Predators Saturday night. The Predators' 62 points have them at the top of the Western Conference with the Anaheim Ducks.
Petr Mrazek makes a save Thursday night against the Blues (AP Photo/Tom Gannam)
About the Red Wings (24-11-9, 3rd in Atlantic):
Mrazek made 25 saves Thursday night (.926 save percentage) for his 7th win of the season. The 22-year-old is relishing the starting role with Jimmy Howard (groin) and Jonas Gustavsson (shoulder) both hurt. He flashed the leather a few times against the Blues including a nifty blocker save in the overtime period. In 11 games this season he has a 2.13 goals against average and a .921 save percentage.
Mike Babcock got goals from his second and fourth lines Thursday night. Joakim Andersson scored his 1st of the season on a rebound from a Drew Miller shot. Tomas Tatar, who leads the Red Wings with 18 goals, scored another big one to put his team up 2-0 on the road.
The Red Wings are returning home to Joe Louis Arena for the first time since Dec. 31. They went 4-2 during a six-game road stint which started with a three-game trip to western Canada. They are 7-3-0 in their past 10 games as they return home, where they boast a 13-4-6 record.
About the Predators (29-9-4, 1st in Central):
The Predators have a chance to return to 1st place in the NHL when they host their former coach's team Friday night. Barry Trotz spent 15 seasons behind the bench in Nashville. He was the franchise's first and only coach until he left at the end of last season and took the job with the Washington Capitals.
Without Trotz, Nashville has surged to the top of the league. With Trotz, the Capitals are back in the playoff picture.
Nashville's Pekka Rinne has been a big, if not the biggest, part of their success, and now he's expected to be out of commission for 3-5 weeks with a knee injury. Rinne leads the NHL with a 1.96 goals against average and 29 wins.
There's no question his injury is a huge blow to coach Peter Laviolette's team. The start likely goes to Carter Hutton Friday night with 23-year-old Marek Mazanec backing him up. Mazanec was recalled from Milwaukee this week and the back-to-back games could give him the start Saturday night in Detroit.
The good news for Nashville is sniper James Neal is back in the lineup after missing a few games with a lower body injury. He had two assists in his return Tuesday night. He has 25 points in his first season with the Predators.
Rookie Filip Forsberg leads the team with 39 points. Consequently, he is leading the candidate for the Calder Trophy. Meanwhile, 25-year-old forward Colin Wilson is having a breakout season with 14 goals and 16 assists.
NOTES:
The Red Wings have the third best power play in the league (23.6 percent) but went 0/4 against the Blues.
This is the first of two meetings between the Red Wings and Predators this season. The next one is Feb. 28 in Nashville.
The Predators won both meetings last season.