Red Wings Fall to Blues 5-4 at Home
Detroit blew a two-goal third-period lead and was booed off the ice after a 5-4 loss to St. Louis at Little Caesars Arena.
Updated on Oct. 31, 2026 in Hockey
The Detroit Red Wings lost 5-4 to the St. Louis Blues on Saturday, Oct. 31 at Little Caesars Arena. Detroit held a two-goal lead early in the third period before the defeat, and fans booed the team off the ice.
Why it matters
The loss snapped a two-game winning streak and leaves the Red Wings at 6-5-3 for the season. Coach Todd McLellan said the team became comfortable and lackadaisical after building its lead.
Detroit outshot St. Louis 28-15 and went 1-for-2 on power plays and 3-for-3 on penalty kills, while the Blues went about 26 minutes without a shot on goal. The Red Wings' record now stands at 6-5-3, with points in eight of their previous nine games.
The players
Todd McLellan
Todd McLellan is the head coach of the Detroit Red Wings, who criticized his team for becoming comfortable and lackadaisical after building its lead.
The details
J.T. Compher and Keegan Kolesar scored their first goals of the season to turn a 1-0 deficit into a 2-1 lead. Lucas Raymond and Finnie extended the lead before St. Louis rallied to win 5-4.
Timeline
Saturday, Oct. 31: Red Wings lose 5-4 to the Blues at Little Caesars Arena.
Monday: Red Wings play the Florida Panthers.
Tuesday: Red Wings play the Tampa Bay Lightning.
Season Trajectory
The loss interrupts a stretch in which the Red Wings earned points in eight of their previous nine games and had won two straight. At 6-5-3, Detroit's early-season form remains competitive but leaves little margin for further slips.
Detroit's loss drops its record to 6-5-3, and the next two games against Florida and Tampa Bay will determine whether the team can recover its recent form. Fans tracking the standings will see a team that gave up a two-goal lead and must respond quickly.
The takeaway
Holding a lead requires sustained focus through the full game, as the Red Wings discovered when a two-goal third-period advantage slipped away. Teams that keep pressing through the final period tend to protect those advantages more consistently.
What happens next
The Red Wings play the Florida Panthers on Monday and the Tampa Bay Lightning on Tuesday.
Further reading
Find more coverage in Detroit Hockey.
