Resurgent Blues end Red Wings' winning streak

ST. LOUIS -- Alex Steen scored unassisted for the go-ahead goal in the second period, and the St. Louis Blues held the Detroit Red Wings to single-digit shots in all three periods of a 2-1 victory Tuesday night.

Matt D'Agostini added a power-play goal for the Blues, who ended the Red Wings' four-game winning streak and halted goalie Jimmy Howard's five-game winning streak against St. Louis. Detroit was 0 for 6 on the power play and is 0 for 16 over the last three games. It is 2 for 24 on road advantages.

Howard made 35 saves in his first loss against the Blues since a 4-3 shootout defeat Feb. 9, 2010, and Justin Abdelkader scored the game's first goal. Detroit totaled 22 shots, but only four in the third.

The Blues are 3-0-1 since Ken Hitchcock replaced Davis Payne as coach. They have scored a power-play goal in three of the four games after totaling just three power-play goals over the first 13 games.

The second period was the Blues' best, with a 19-9 shots advantage and Steen's team-leading seventh goal at 17:19. Steen picked off a blind backhand clearing effort by Johan Franzen and beat Howard with a wrist shot from the left circle.

The Blues' David Backes, right, checks the Red Wings' Darren Helm into the boards during the third period Tuesday in St. Louis. The Blues won 2-1. (Jeff Roberson ~ Associated Press)

Abdelkader ended a 12-game drought at 6:02 of the first, putting the Red Wings in front with a pass across the crease that deflected off a defender's skate and past goalie Brian Elliott. D'Agostini tied it with his fifth of the season on a power play late in the first.

D'Agostini got a loose puck in the slot after Patrik Berglund's shot was blocked by the defense just 12 seconds after Jonathan Ericsson was whistled for interference.

Blues forward Chris Stewart got a game misconduct for checking Nicklas Kronwall into the boards near the Red Wings bench midway through the first period. Kronwall was assisted off the ice but returned in the second period.

Noteworthy

* New Cardinals manager Mike Matheny, wearing a Blues jersey with his No. 22, dropped a ceremonial first puck with captains Nicklas Lidstrom of Detroit and St. Louis' David Backes at center ice.

... Attendance of 19,150 was the Blues' eighth sellout of the season. ... Hockey Hall of Fame coach Scotty Bowman, due to be inducted into the St. Louis Sports Hall of Fame on Wednesday night, watched the game from the press box.