Red Wings 3, Blues 1
Niklas Kronwall and Pavel Datsyuk scored power-play goals as the Detroit Red Wings defeated the St. Louis Blues 3-1 on Monday for their 17th straight victory at home.
Kronwall secured the win with three minutes left to play when he blasted a shot from the point past a screened Jaroslav Halak for his 11th of the season as Detroit increased its Central Division lead to three points over St. Louis and Chicago.
Jimmy Howard, who has started every game during the home streak, made 21 saves for his league-leading 30th win.
Johan Franzen gave the Red Wings a 2-1 lead after two periods with his 19th of the season. Franzen, with his back to the net, grabbed a rebound off a point shot and backhanded the puck past Halak.
Just 51 seconds into the middle frame, Datsyuk scored his 14th of the season. The sniper set up on the half wall, took a pass from Nicklas Lidstrom and cut into the slot, leaving Blues’ defenseman Alex Pietrangelo in his wake and roofing a backhand just under the crossbar.
The Blues took a 1-0 lead in the first period by taking advantage of a bad Detroit line change which set up a 3-on-1 rush that Scott Nichol finished for his second goal of the season.
Detroit defenseman Nicklas Lidstrom had two assists and moved into a tie with Phil Esposito for 21st on the career list with 873.