ST. LOUIS — Cam Talbot performed acrobatics as the Detroit Red Wings tried to stay within reach of a playoff spot.
They were in control of Tuesday’s game at Enterprise Center with half a minute to go in regulation, but the St. Louis Blues rallied to win in overtime, 2-1, leaving the Wings to settle for one point.
J.T. Compher broke a scoreless tie at 5:13 of the third period when he had an open shot from the left side of the net. Talbot made his 34th save of the game shortly after the Wings were thwarted on a third straight power play, making a highlight-reel save on Ryan Suter. The Wings were 29 seconds from winning in regulation when Jordan Kyrou fired a shot past Moritz Seider and Talbot to make it 1-1. Cam Fowler scored at 3:26 of the extra period.
The Wings (34-33-7, 75 points) have eight games remaining, The Montreal Canadiens rallied to win their game Tuesday, reaching 79 points and also with eight games to go. The Columbus Blue Jackets likewise won, reaching 77 points, and the idle New York Rangers are also ahead of the Wings at 77 points.
RED WINGS MAILBAG: When is goalie prospect Sebastian Cossa going to play?
Need a break? Play the USA TODAY Daily Crossword Puzzle.
Withstanding an early storm
Cam Talbot made multiple acrobatic saves early on as the Blues kept possession of the puck. When Jeff Petry was sent off for cross-checking near the three-minute mark, shots favored St. Louis, 4-1. For as hot as the Blues have been since the start of March, their power play is mediocre, and Pavel Buchnevich was the only player to get a shot on Talbot. Past their penalty, Patrick Kane skated the puck up the left flank and had a good shot denied by Jordan Binnington. The Blues had another shot on their second power play, and edged the Wings, 11-3 in shots on net in the first period.
Stalled
The Wings earned a power play two minutes into the second period when Brayden Schenn tripped Albert Johansson. Moritz Seider sent a shot high and J.T. Compher was denied on a tip attempt, which was the Wings’ only shot on net during the two-minute stretch. Back at even strength, Kane got to a loose puck near the net, but a pileup in the crease prevented that scoring opportunity from going anywhere.
Doubling up
The Wings had a second power play with six minutes to go in the second period, but Binnington came through with four saves during that. That, at least, put the Wings at nine shots on net. It was still Talbot against whom the ice seemed tilted, as he withstood a barrage of shots that gave the Blues a 23-12 edge after two periods.
Contact Helene St. James at [email protected]. Follow her on Twitter @helenestjames. Read more on the Detroit Red Wings and sign up for our Red Wings newsletter. Her latest book, “The Franchise: Detroit Red Wings, A Curated History of the Red Wings,” was released October 2024. Her books, “On the Clock: Behind the Scenes with the Detroit Red Wings at the NHL Draft,” and “The Big 50: The Men and Moments that made the Detroit Red Wings” are available from Amazon, Barnes & Noble and Triumph Books. Personalized copies available via her e-mail.
