Blues claim 1-0 victory in rare shutout of Wings

ST. LOUIS -- Bill Guerin scored and Manny Legace and Curtis Sanford combined to stop 23 shots for St. Louis and shut out Detroit for the first time in 176 games in the Blues' 1-0 victory Thursday night.

The Red Wings last were shut out Jan. 7, 2004, in a 3-0 loss to Boston. Calgary holds the NHL record for consecutive games without being shutout -- 264 from Nov. 12, 1981 to Jan. 9, 1985.

Legace was crunched by Detroit's Tomas Holmstrom in a collision in front of the goal with 15:47 left in the second period. Play was stopped as Legace was looked at by a trainer. Holmstrom was sent flying into Legace by Bryce Salvador. Legace stayed in briefly and then left the game with 16:26. Sanford replaced Legace, who stopped 10 shots.

The loss snapped a five-game winning streak for the Red Wings, who are 3-3-1 against St. Louis this season. The Blues entered the game having lost four of their last five games.

Backup goalie Joey McDonald started his fifth game of the season for the Red Wings, who gave Dominik Hasek the night off. McDonald last started Jan. 20 in a 3-1 loss to Colorado.

The Blues tested McDonald in the first period, outshooting Detroit, 16-3. McDonald's biggest early save came at 8:55 of the first period when he blocked a Doug Weight shot from the side of the goal after Guerin made a nifty cross-ice pass.

St. Louis finally broke through against McDonald at 5:01 of the second period. From the right faceoff circle, Guerin hit a shot that bounced in off the arm of Detroit defenseman Chris Chelios, who was battling with Lee Stempniak in front of the goal. It was Guerin's team-leading 22nd goal. St. Louis has scored first in 17 of 27 games since Andy Murray became the coach.

The Blues failed to convert an insurance goal on a 2-on-1 breakaway at 4 minutes into the third period when McDonald stopped a shot by Weight after getting a pass from Guerin.

The Red Wings had an opportunity with 4:20 to play. Detroit's Pavel Datsyuk crossed the blue line and beat Salvador to go in alone on Sanford, who made a glove save.

Detroit had a 5-on-3 advantage for the last 11.3 seconds when Dallas Drake was called for holding as the Red Wings already had pulled McDonald. Nicklas Lidstrom hit a slap shot as time expired, but Sanford caught it, falling back.

Notes: Blues D Jay McKee missed his 10th consecutive game and 32nd of the season because of injuries. McKee is out with lower body pain. He sustained a hit to the midsection in game Jan. 13 against Los Angeles. ... Detroit has outscored opponents 69-37 in the third period. The Red Wings are 23-1-1 when leading after two periods. Detroit is first in the league with third-period goals and has allowed the fewest goals against in the third period. ... the Blues went 0-3 on the power play against Detroit and are 0-for-34 this season on the power play against the Red Wings.