Red Wings Beat the Blues 12/15/2010

Nicklas Lidstrom crossed off about the only thing left on his NHL to-do list. The star defenseman scored three goals for his first career hat trick and added an assist to help the Detroit Red Wings beat the St. Louis Blues 5-2. The 40-year-old Swede, a six-time Norris Trophy winner as the NHL’s best defenseman, has helped Detroit win four Stanley Cup titles and also won the Conn Smythe Trophy as the playoffs MVP.
The Detroit captain had 19 two-goal games in his 19-year career before breaking through. Kronwall got his seventh goal on a shot from the top inside edge of the left circle and Cleary poked in a rebound for a power-play goal and his 14th of the season with 2:22 left.
Lidstrom added his second goal on a power play 2:46 into the third period, beating Halak with a slap shot from the point. Winchester’s power-play goal 6:42 into the third period closed the deficit to two. He tipped in Alexander Steen’s shot from the point.
Lidstrom completed his hat trick with an empty-netter in the final minute for his seventh of the season.