Wings score early on ex-goalie Legace in 3-2 win over Blues
MANNY THANKS: Wings score early on ex-goalie Legace in 3-2 win over Blues
October 29, 2006
BY GEORGE SIPPLE
FREE PRESS SPORTS WRITER
ST. LOUIS -- The Red Wings got off to a quick start against their old teammate Saturday night.
The Wings scored goals on their first two shots against Manny Legace and went on to beat the Blues, 3-2, at the Scottrade Center.
Tomas Holmstrom said during the morning skate it would be fun to face his former teammate.
It turned out to be really fun. Holmstrom scored twice against Legace. Pavel Datsyuk assisted on both goals.
Legace, who hasn't solidified the No. 1 job in St. Louis, entered the game with a 3.55 goals-against average and a .869 save percentage.
The Blues went with Legace over Curtis Sanford, who had played well in consecutive games. Sanford has a 2.59 goals-against average and a .920 save percentage.
Holmstrom opened the scoring at 4:33 of the first on a high slap shot that banged off the crossbar with assists from Datsyuk and Danny Markov. It was Holmstrom's 300th career point.
"I needed a couple shots, I'm so tense and fired up, you know what I mean," Legace said. "I need a couple shots in the belly; he rings one off the crossbar."
On the Wings' second shot of the game, rookie Valtteri Filppula scored his first career NHL goal, beating Legace on a backhand to the glove side at 6:32.
"It was a really good move, caught me flat-footed," Legace said.
Kris Draper ended a five-game pointless streak and Niklas Kronwall ended a seven-game pointless streak with assists on the goal.
The Blues cut the lead to 2-1 at 13:35 of the second period on Bill Guerin's fourth goal of the season. Defenseman Christian Backman and forward Doug Weight (Warren) assisted on the goal. Backman was playing for the first time this season after having off-season surgery on his left shoulder.
Holmstrom scored his second goal at 6:34 of the third. He grabbed the rebound on a shot by Jason Williams and fired a backhand past Legace, who finished with 22 saves for the Blues (3-4-2).
"Nice to have one of those going in, too," Holmstrom said. "As long as we win, that's important. Of course, it's always nice to grab some points, too."
The Blues appeared to score a few minutes later on a shot by defenseman Dennis Wideman. The puck appeared to hit the left post and scoot across the front of the goal line before hitting the right post.
The Blues scored for real with 3:26 left on a short-handed unassisted breakaway goal by Radek Dvorak. That slimmed the Wings' lead to 3-2.
Goaltender Chris Osgood made 28 saves for the Wings (6-4-1).
"Getting the lead, obviously, allows us to play our game and play good defense," Osgood said.
Legace played the previous six seasons with the Wings before signing a one-year deal with the Blues after the Wings decided to part company with him.
He said his first game back in Detroit would be a big deal.
"Going back there and seeing the people, seeing a lot of friends," he said. "I think it'll be really special going back there. It'll be a little tougher playing."
As the Wings' primary goaltender last season, Legace went 37-8-3 with a 2.19 goals-against average, but went 2-4 with a 2.65 goals-against average in the playoffs. The Wings lost to the Edmonton Oilers in the first round.
This was the first of eight meetings this season between the division foes. The teams next meet at Joe Louis Arena on Nov. 24.