– Photo by Ryan Leopando / Arch City Sports
The St Louis Blues headed to the Big Apple Monday night looking for revenge against a Rangers team that spoiled their opening night. The Blues offense, led by Vladimir Tarasenko, would need to apply pressure early as New York was missing Ryan McDonagh and Kevin Klein due to injuries. New York came into this matchup connecting on only two of their 28 power play chances on the season.
The Blues allowed the first goal of the game the same way they allowed Colorado to score their two goals Saturday night, by being down a man. A Barret Jackman hooking penalty gave the Rangers the one man advantage Chris Kreider needed to tip the puck passed Brian Elliott. The goal was Kreider’s third of the season and second against the Blues.
At the 13:14 mark in the first, Ryan Reeves locked horns with Dylan McIlrath and dropped the gloves. Reeves got ahold of McIlrath’s jersey and landed a few right-crosses to the head before the fight was broken up by the officials. Both players were hit with five minute majors. That fight would be the lone bright spot of the opening period for St Louis as they’d head into the first intermission trailing by a goal.
The Blues looked overmatched early, trailing in the shots department 15-4 through one.
5:57 into the second, the Blues would get their first power play of the game, as interference was called on Matt Hunwick. The Blues took advantage in an impressive way. Vladimir Tarasenko got the puck at center ice and darted through all four Ranger’s defenders, deked Cam Talbot to the left, stretched back to his right and back-handed the puck by the New York goalie with one hand on his stick, tying the game at one. The goal was Tarasenko’s seventh of the season and quite possibly his prettiest.
With 4:50 left in the second, Dylan McIlrath tripped Jori Lehtera and would be sent to the penalty box for the third time in the contest. St Louis couldn’t connect on the power play and the score remained tied one apiece as both teams headed into the locker rooms.
The Blues put 17 shots on net in the period compared to New York’s eight.
With just under four minutes passed in the third, Patrik Berglund ripped a shot off the blocker of Talbot. Barret Jackman rocketed the long rebound towards the goal and the puck ricocheted off the skate of Berglund and squeeked by Talbot, giving the Blues their first lead of the evening.
The lead wouldn’t last long, as Martin St Louis scored his 372nd goal of his career to tie the game at two. The goal came on a nice pass from behind the net by Carl Hagelin. This was the first even-strength goal the Blues have allowed since the second period of last Tuesday’s game at Dallas.
The Blues would get another power play chance at the 7:26 mark thanks to a hooking penalty against Kevin Hayes. St Louis couldn’t capitalize on the advantage. The defense of the Rangers didn’t appear to have two of their best men out of the lineup.
With under seven minutes to go in regulation, Martin St Louis would do more damage. Rick Nash carried the puck along the boards on the right side and dropped a pinpoint saucer-pass to Martin St Louis in front of the net for an easy tap in, giving New York a 3-2 lead late.
The Blues would need to get something going in a hurry if they wanted their winning streak to extend to five games. Jori Lehtera dropped a no-look pass back to the high slot that found Jay Boumeester. Boumeester wristed the puck high to beat Talbot to his stick-side and tie the game at three apiece on Boumeester’s first goal of the season.
With under a minute to go Kevin Shattenkirk was whistled for slashing and was sent to the penalty box. The Blues penalty kill unit stood pat to end regulation. The overtime period would start four on three, as Shattenkirk’s penalty still had 1:37 to go.
The overtime period was full of back and forth play. Brian Elliott highlighted the five minute frame with a couple of nice saves, including an eye-popping stop against Rick Nash.
The Blues were going to their second shootout in as many games.
The shootout session started with Brian Elliott stopping Martin St Louis with a glove save. Cam Talbot followed suit by stoning Joakim Lindstrom. Former Blue Lee Stempniak backhanded one through the five-hole of Elliott to get the scoring going. Then Alex Steen beat Talbot high to the glove side to give each team a tally. The dangerous Rick Nash would be up next. Nash got a little too close to Elliott as the Blues net minder poke checked the puck free, ending the turn for Nash.
If there was one shooter on this planet Ken Hitchcock could choose to have up, it would be Vladimir Tarasenko. Vladi drifted slowly to the right side, danced in front of Talbot, then wristed the puck low to the stick side and found the twine to end the game.
This victory is the second shootout win in a row for the Blues as their win streak extends to five. St Louis improves to 7-3-1. The Blues pick up two more points, giving them 15 overall. The Rangers drop to 5-4-2.
The NHL’s current Star of the Week, Vladimir Tarasenko, picks up his sixth goal since last Tuesday, and his eighth point during that span.
St Louis finishes the road trip Tuesday at New Jersey. The puck drops at 6:30 and can be seen nationally on NBCSN, or heard on KMOX 1120.
