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Alex Nedeljkovic returns as Detroit Red Wings blasted by Blues, 4-3, after early lead

Red Wings defenseman Jake Walman protects the puck from Blues left wing Sammy Blais in the first period on Thursday, March 23, 2023, at Little Caesars Arena.

Facing a breakaway was a tough reintroduction for goalie Alex Nedeljkovic in his first game with the Detroit Red Wings in more than three months.

The St. Louis Blues got one by Nedeljkovic on the first shot he faced Thursday at Little Caesars Arena, when he was called to enter the game with the Wings trailing by a goal. The Wings wound up losing, 4-3, falling for the 11th time in 14 games over the past month.

Red Wings defenseman Jake Walman protects the puck from Blues left wing Sammy Blais in the first period on Thursday, March 23, 2023, at Little Caesars Arena.

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The Wings looked like they were going to build off the 3-2 shootout victory they came away with two nights earlier in St. Louis, racking up two goals in the first 88 seconds of the game. But the Blues cut the lead to one, and then scored three unanswered goals in the second period. The one that made it 4-2 was by Jake Neighbours, whose breakaway marred Nedeljkovic’s first appearance at LCA since Nov. 30. It was the only goal Nedeljkovic gave up on nine shots.

The Wings pulled Nedeljkovic for an extra attacker with more than three minutes to play, and the gamble paid off with Alex Chiasson scoring with 2:16 to play.

Goaltending woes

With Ville Husso dealing with a nagging lower-body injury, Magnus Hellberg started for a second straight game. Hellberg gave up a goal to fourth-line forward Alexey Toropchenko midway through the first period, on a shot fired from the blue line. Brayden Schenn made it 2-2 when he scored from just outside the crease, and Sammy Blais likewise scored by being in front of the net, at 12:40 of the second period, to put the Blues up, 3-1. That goal, on the Blues’ 13th shot on net, prompted the Wings to pull Hellberg in favor of Nedeljkovic, who was called up earlier in the day from the AHL. It was Nedeljkovic’s first NHL game since Dec. 8, after his struggles (4.09 goals-against average, .880 save percentage) landed him on waivers, and then the minors.

Blues center Brayden Schenn handles the puck during the first period on Thursday, March 23, 2023, at Little Caesars Arena.

Blues center Brayden Schenn handles the puck during the first period on Thursday, March 23, 2023, at Little Caesars Arena.

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