Detroit Red Wings Win a Game; They Rally To Beat Blues 4-3 in Shootout

It wasn't all that long ago that a win by the Detroit Red Wings was hardly headline material.

However, given their record of late, scoring a goal would be worthy of a story; so a win definitely warrants some attention.

Coming into Saturday's action against the St. Louis Blues, the Red Wings had lost five of their last six games, were in the midst of their longest goal scoring drought since 1977, and were coming off another frustrating home loss the night before.

By the end of the first period Saturday, the Wings looked as if they were well on their way to extending their losing streak to four games as the Blues went into the first intermission with a 2-0 lead.

However, the Red Wings came out determined in the second period and did exactly what head coach Mike Babcock told them to do: stick to the plan and don't get frustrated.

At 2:35 into the second period, the Red Wings did something they hadn't done in over eight periods of hockey, score a goal (well, a goal that counts at least).

So rare was this feat that Detroit's play-by-play announcer, Ken Daniels, was a bit hesitant in even announcing the goal.

After all, Detroit putting the puck into the net hasn't exactly been synonymous with scoring a goal of late.

It was nice that this one was allowed to count.

Thus began Detroit's come from behind effort that saw them tie the game twice before eventually winning in the shootout.

It would be foolhardy to extrapolate much beyond the obvious from this game.

It is, after all, a single island of a win in a sea of losses.

Still, something can be said for Detroit's ability to rally from a 2-0 deficit and maintain enough composure to hold on for the shootout win.

There were some noteworthy performances on this night.

The line of Darren Helm, Kris Draper and Patrick Eaves was easily the best on either team.

The trio combined for nine shots on goal, three points and a plus-three rating.

Rookie goalie Jimmy Howard also had a particularly strong night stopping 32 of 35 shots, including a point-blank chance by Blues sniper Paul Kariya during the overtime session.

And, perhaps most heartening, there is now recent video evidence that Detroit forward Todd Bertuzzi can, in fact, score a goal.

The much maligned forward ended the game with a beautiful back-hander in the fourth round of the shootout.

The veteran forward who was once considered by many to be one of the greatest power-forwards in the NHL is pointless in his last six games and has a paltry three goals in 24 games played this season.

Though the shootout goal won't count towards his totals, it may provide a much needed boost to a player whose point totals deserve to be much better given his effort.

Bertuzzi trails only Henrik Zetterberg in shots on goal with 69.

Again, it's tough to make much out of this win.

The Wings haven't won in regulation in two weeks and the Blues aren't exactly world-beaters.

Nevertheless, even a 3-2 regulation loss would be welcome news given Detroit's recent goal-scoring impotence.

So, a shootout win, which may or may not be a spring board to more, is definitely worthy of a headline.

Man, that's depressing.