Red Wings Squander Third Period Lead in 5-4 Loss to Blues

The Red Wings appeared to be in the driver's seat Saturday afternoon against the St. Louis Blues. Instead, a promising performance turned into one of the Red Wings' most disappointing losses of the young season.

Despite holding a two-goal advantage early in the third period, the Red Wings surrendered three unanswered goals in a 5-4 loss at Little Caesars Arena. The defeat snapped the Red Wings' two-game winning streak and dropped their record to 6-5-3.

Lucas Raymond led the Red Wings with a goal and an assist, while J.T. Compher, Keegan Kolesar and Emmitt Finnie also scored. John Gibson struggled in net, allowing five goals on just 15 shots.

The Blues opened the scoring at 2:29 of the first period when Dalibor Dvorsky finished a rush with a backhand shot past Gibson

The Red Wings responded at 8:13 after Blues goaltender Joel Hofer mishandled the puck behind his net. Michael Rasmussen collected the loose puck and found Compher in front for his first goal of the season.

The Red Wings controlled much of the opening period, outshooting the Blues 8-1, but entered the intermission tied 1-1.

Just 41 seconds into the second period, Kolesar broke free and beat Hofer on a breakaway for his first goal with the Red Wings. Raymond extended the lead to 3-1 at 13:14 with an impressive individual effort.

After controlling the puck along the left boards, he worked his way into the high slot and fired a wrist shot past Hofer. The goal was Raymond's fifth of the season.

However, the Blues pulled within one before intermission. With 28 seconds remaining, Jimmy Snuggerud converted a rebound after Gibson stopped an initial attempt by Robert Thomas, cutting the Red Wings' lead to 3-2. The Red Wings appeared to regain control early in the third period.

Following a tripping penalty against Jake Neighbours, Finnie scored a power play goal at 3:29, beating Hofer with a wrist shot from the slot, restoring the Red Wings' two goal advantage.

But the momentum quickly shifted.

Pavel Buchnevich began the St. Louis comeback at 8:37, scoring between the faceoff circles to make it 4-3. At 12:57, Justin Barron tied the game when he found a loose puck in the slot and fired it past Gibson.

Just 18 seconds later, Aleksanteri Kaskimaki redirected Alexey Toropchenko's shot into the net for his first career NHL goal, giving the Blues a 5-4 lead.

What had been a two goal advantage had disappeared in less than five minutes. The Red Wings couldn't find an equalizer despite pulling Gibson for an extra attacker late in regulation.

St. Louis Blues goaltender Joel Hofer and Detroit Red Wings left wing Viktor Arvidsson Credit: Rick Osentoski-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

Hofer finished with 24 saves for the Blues, who improved to 7-6-1. The Red Wings outshot St. Louis 28-15 and converted one of their two power play opportunities. The Red Wings also killed all three Blues power plays. Detroit will look to rebound Monday when they visit the Florida Panthers.

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