Penguins Put the Brakes on Streaking Red Wings

Three streaks came to an end at Detroit on Sunday, and that was bad news for the Red Wings.

Pittsburgh goalie Tom Barrasso, who had missed 18 games in a row after breaking his right hand March 3, made 20 saves in his return and the Penguins ended their eight-game winless streak and Detroit’s nine-game unbeaten streak with a 3-0 victory.

Alexei Kovalev, Jan Hrdina and Dan Kesa scored as Pittsburgh won with Barrasso in the net for the first time since Feb. 25.

It was the 34th career shutout for Barrasso, and his fourth of the season. He is 14-7-7 against Detroit with two shutouts.

It was Detroit’s first loss since picking up Chris Chelios, Wendel Clark, Ulf Samuelsson and goalie Bill Ranford hours before the March 23 trading deadline.

The nine-game unbeaten streak (8-0-1) was Detroit’s longest since 1996 when the Red Wings went 12-0-1 from March 3 to March 31. Detroit goaltender Chris Osgood, who made 20 saves against the Penguins, had won six games during the Red Wings’ streak.

Colorado 4, St. Louis 2--Peter Forsberg tied a career high with his 30th goal, and goalie Patrick Roy continued his season-long domination of the Blues as the Avalanche extended its unbeaten streak to nine games with a victory at St. Louis.

Roy, who shut out the Blues three times this season, had not given up a goal against St. Louis in 207:09 of action before Scott Young scored his 20th at 2:09 of the second period. St. Louis outshot Colorado, 36-20, but Roy made 34 saves to end the Blues’ five-game unbeaten streak.

Theoren Fleury scored his 39th goal, and Dale Hunter got his second for the Avalanche. Michel Picard got the other St. Louis goal.