The Detroit Red Wings avoided a losing streak on Saturday, picking up a dominating win over the St. Louis Blues to the tune of 3-0. It's just the second time this season that Detroit has won or lost just one game on its own - other than that, everything has been done in streaks or skids. Detroit had lost in its previous outing, a close 3-2 defeat at the hands of the Chicago Blackhawks, but were able to get back in the win column with the victory over the Blues.
After a scoreless first period in which the Red Wings went 0-for-2 on their power plays, they lit the lamp three times in the second - none of them on the power play, despite two more attempts. Still, Johan Franzen, Justin Abdelkader and Jiri Hudler all notched goals in that frame, giving them a dominating shutout victory. There were no goals in the third period, either.
With the shot totals even at 31-31, it was obviously Detroit's Jimmy Howard who got the best of, recording yet another shutout with all 31 shots stopped. Brian Elliott stopped 28 of 31 shot his way, and had a good game as well, but the Red Wings just know how to get the puck past great goalies better than any team in the league.
With the win, the Red Wings pick up their 12th-straight at the Joe Louis Arena, and will next take on the Dallas Stars on the road. They've got four road games in a row upcoming, and if they're hoping to come out of it well, they really need to start playing like they have been at The Joe.
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