NHL
Kaskimäki’s First NHL Goal Completes Blues’ 5–4 Comeback Against Red Wings
St. Louis scored three straight goals in 4:38 after trailing by two early in the third period.
Aleksanteri Kaskimäki scored his first NHL goal to complete a three-goal third-period rally as the St. Louis Blues beat the Detroit Red Wings 5–4 on Saturday at Little Caesars Arena. His winner came at 13:15, just 18 seconds after Justin Barron had tied the game.
Detroit led 4–2 after Emmitt Finnie’s power-play goal at 3:29 of the third, but Pavel Buchnevich began the comeback on a two-on-one. Barron then found a loose puck and beat John Gibson, and Kaskimäki put St. Louis ahead. The three goals came in a span of 4:38.
The Blues improved to 7–6–1 despite being outshot 28–15. Detroit fell to 6–5–3, leaving both teams with 15 points. Dalibor Dvorsky opened the scoring on the Blues’ only first-period shot. St. Louis did not register another shot until well into the second period as Detroit established control.
J.T. Compher tied it after Joel Hofer mishandled the puck behind his net and Michael Rasmussen set up the finish. Keegan Kolesar gave Detroit the lead on an early second-period breakaway. Lucas Raymond extended the advantage before Jimmy Snuggerud scored with 28 seconds remaining before the second intermission. Compher now has four points in his last five games since returning from an undisclosed injury.
Hofer finished with 24 saves, while Gibson stopped 10 shots. Red Wings coach Todd McLellan said his team’s checking details slipped after a strong first half. He cautioned against placing the result entirely on Gibson, pointing to the quality of chances Detroit allowed during the Blues’ comeback.
Raymond said Detroit should have closed the game out with a two-goal lead at home. Kolesar also cited breakdowns in the forecheck, neutral zone and defensive zone, including an uncovered player in front of the net. The Red Wings return to the road Monday against the Florida Panthers.
