The Detroit Red Wings had this one in their hands, then watched it slip away in a hurry.
On Halloween afternoon at Little Caesars Arena, Detroit carried a 4-2 lead over the St. Louis Blues deep into the third period before the game turned into a nightmare.
St. Louis scored three straight goals, including two in 18 seconds, and walked out with a 5-4 win.
The loss dropped Detroit to 6-5-3 through 14 games and left the Red Wings at 4-4-1 at home.
St. Louis opened the scoring when Dalibor Dvorsky finished a backhand from close range.
Detroit answered soon after, with Michael Rasmussen stripping goaltender Joel Hofer behind the net and setting up J.T. Compher for his first goal of the season.
The Red Wings kept pushing in the second period. Keegan Kolesar, taking a pass from Carter Mazur, broke in alone on Hofer and scored his first goal since being traded to Detroit over the summer. Lucas Raymond then added his fifth goal in his last six games to make it 3-1.
The Blues trimmed the margin late in the period when Jimmy Snuggerud poked a loose puck past Gibson at the side of the net, but Detroit regained control early in the third. Emmitt Finnie scored on the power play at 3:29, and the Red Wings looked set to close it out.
Instead, St. Louis flipped the game in a flash. Pavel Buchnevich beat Gibson with a shot to the blocker side at 8:37, Justin Barron followed with another blocker-side blast, and then 18 seconds later Aleksanteri Kaskimaki redirected an Alexey Toropchenko shot for the first goal of his NHL career and the Blues’ go-ahead tally.
Detroit pulled Gibson for an extra attacker, but couldn’t find the equalizer.
Gibson finished with 10 saves on 15 shots. Hofer stopped 24 of 28 for the win.
The Red Wings now head out for two straight divisional games, starting Monday against the Florida Panthers.
In Other News...
Red Wings Icon Takes Rare Public Stand In Russia Hockey Debate
Nicklas Lidstrom has spent years as one of the most respected voices in hockey, and now the Red Wings vice president of hockey operations and Swedish Hockey Federation advisor has taken a rare public position on one of the sports most sensitive issues. In the wake of the International Court of Arbitration for Sport annulling the IIHFs ban on Russia, Lidstrom has thrown his support behind the idea of boycotting international events if Russia is allowed back into the competition mix.
The IIHF is expected to appeal the ruling, which keeps the issue very much alive across the hockey world. Adding another layer to the debate is Viacheslav Fetisov, Lidstroms former teammate and now a member of the Russian State Duma, who wants Russia returned to international play but only under its own national symbols rather than as neutral athletes. [Read more 🡒]
Red Wings Fans Should Brace For A New Twist In The Larkin Standoff
Dylan Larkins situation has moved well beyond a standard contract dispute, and the latest wrinkle only adds to the uncertainty around where this ends for Detroit. Elliotte Friedman reported that the Red Wings captains approved trade list could change within the next 24 to 48 hours, a detail that matters because Detroit has already suspended him without pay after Larkin said he would not play for the club again.
For the Red Wings, the practical challenge is sorting through a trade market that is already complicated by cap realities and the kinds of assets other teams would have to send back. Larkins current list includes 10 teams, but not every name on it is a realistic fit, which leaves Detroit navigating a moving target while the clock keeps ticking on one of the franchises most uncomfortable storylines in years. [Read more 🡒]
Red Wings Add A Scoring Option As Lineup Questions Keep Growing
With the Red Wings still sorting through their lineup picture, John Leonard is getting another NHL look after being recalled from AHL Grand Rapids. The winger will join Detroit on its upcoming road trip in Florida, giving the club an extra scoring option at a time when it could use some stability and a little more finish in the forward group.
Leonard has been productive for the Griffins early this season, scoring five goals in six games, and he was also Grand Rapids leading goal scorer a year ago. Detroit clearly sees enough there to keep him in the mix, especially after signing him to a one-year extension, but this call-up is also a chance for Leonard to show he can carry that offense into the NHL picture. [Read more 🡒]