The Detroit Red Wings dropped their season opener in Stockholm, Sweden, in a 4-3 loss against the St. Louis Blues. Despite the Blues taking the first lead of the game, it was the Red Wings who dominated the first period of action outshooting St. Louis 16-7. After a high-scoring 40 minutes, the offense cooled down considerably. And what I really mean by considerably is that no one actually scored in the final stanza of play.
Jay McClement opened the scoring for St. Louis with a tally 7:54 into the first period. Detroit would end the first period up 2-1 thanks to markers from Jonathan Ericsson and Kirk Maltby. The Big E tipped the puck in with assists given to Maltby and Kris Draper. Maltby scored his first goal of the season while the team was shorthanded less than four minutes later.
Forward Ville Leino padded the Wings’ lead in the waning seconds of Detroit’s power play, but the Wings struggled for most of the second period. Paul Kariya would bring the Blues to within one to spark an offensive surge from St. Louis as they scored two more times in the middle frame with goals from Brandon Crombeen and another one from Kariya.
Unfortunately Ericsson left the ice near the end of the second period and would not return due to an ankle injury. His status is unknown for tomorrow’s contest. The final period went without a goal with shots remaining at 8-8.
The Wings play one more game in Sweden tomorrow afternoon (3 p.m.), once again taking on the Blues, before returning back to Detroit.
What were people’s thoughts about the game?
