Empire strikes back

NHL teams

The game featured a milestone as Steve Yzerman had a goal and an assist for 1,426 points moving him to the 10th place on the NHL career point list. Yzerman moved past his boyhood hero Bryan Trottier, whom he admired so much growing up that he took his jersey number 19.

"As your career goes along you don't really think about where you are or milestones all that much. You just kind of play," said Yzerman.

"Bryan Trottier was my favorite player. As soon as he came into the league I followed his entire career. In some ways, I tried to play like he did. I've had the opportunity to meet him and in my mind he is one of the best players ever. We all have role models and he's mine."

Joey Kocur scored two goals for the Red Wings who also got goals from Slava Kozlov, Kris Draper, Darren McCarty and Yzerman. Kocur hadn't scored a goal in his last 41 regular-season games.

"They are the best team in the league, but we just gave them too much respect," said Blues defenseman Al MacInnis. "We didn't compete. If you give them some room, they're going to make you look bad, and we did tonight."