National Hockey League
BOXSCORE | RECAP
Detroit 3, St. Louis 2
When: 7:30 PM ET, Tuesday, December 27, 2011
Where: Joe Louis Arena, Detroit, Michigan
Referees: Dan O'Halloran, Stephane Auger
Linesmen: David Brisebois, Scott Cherrey
Attendance: 20066

Niklas Kronwall scored with 7:45 left in the third period to break a tie and Jimmy Howard made 29 saves as the Detroit Red Wings erased a two-goal deficit to post a 3-2 win over the St. Louis Blues on Tuesday.

Pavel Datsyuk and Nicklas Lidstrom also had goals as the Red Wings, who recorded their 10th straight victory at home and improved to 14-2-1 at Joe Louis Arena. With the win, Detroit snapped a three-game losing streak to St. Louis.

Howard leads the NHL with 22 wins and has played in every home game for Detroit this season.

Alexander Steen and Matt D'Agostini scored and Brian Elliott also made 29 saves for the Blues, who fell to 15-4-4 under coach Ken Hitchcock.

St. Louis entered the game with the NHL’s worst power play, but scored twice with the man advantage for the second straight game.

After Datsyuk deflected defenseman Ian White’s shot out of mid-air past Elliott at 11:19 of the third period, Kronwall snapped a wrist shot through a screen from the point 56 seconds later.

The Blues took a 2-0 lead when Steen dug Jason Arnott’s shot out of Howard’s pads and slid the puck into an empty net at 13:08 of the second.

Elliott never saw Lidstrom’s one-timer from the point sail into the net with 1:03 left in the second because of Johan Franzen’s screen.

D’Agostini, who was positioned in the slot, deflected defenseman Kevin Shattenkirk’s shot from the point above Howard’s blocker at 6:51 of the first period.

There was a moment of silence before the game for Johnny Wilson, a four-time Stanley Cup winner with Detroit in the 1950s and uncle of Toronto coach Ron Wilson. He died Tuesday at age 82.

Top Game Performances
 
St. Louis   Detroit
Jason Arnott 2 Points Pavel Datsyuk 2
Matt D'Agostini 1 Goals Pavel Datsyuk 1
Jason Arnott 2 Assists Ian White 2
Matt D'Agostini 1 Power Play Goals Nicklas Lidstrom 1
N/A Short Handed Goals N/A
Brian Elliott .906 Save Percentage Jimmy Howard .935
Brian Elliott 29 Saves Jimmy Howard 29
Team Stats Summary
 
Team Shots Goals Power Play Penalty Kill Penalty Mins Face Offs Won
St. Louis 31 2 2-4 3-4 12 33
Detroit 32 3 1-4 2-4 12 28
Upcoming Games
  • Detroit will play their next game on the road against Chicago. The Red Wings have a W/L % of .783 after a win and .385 after a loss.
  • St. Louis will play their next game at home against Nashville. The Blues have a W/L % of .524 after a win and .667 after a loss.