– Photo By Ryan Leopando / Arch City Sports
The Blues traveled north of the border to take on the Montreal Canadians Thursday night. The Blues are coming off a loss at Boston Tuesday night in a game where they were shut down by Tuukka Rask. The Canadians are coming off a 4-0 home loss against the Pittsburgh Penguins. Ken Hitchcock would turn to Jake Allen, who would be starting as an NHL goalie in front of his father for the first time.
Vladimir Tarasenko got the Blues on the board in the first period when he followed up his own shot by bunting in the rebound for his 11th goal of the season. Line-mates Jori Lehtera and Jaden Schwartz would be credited with assists on the play.
The Tarasenko goal kept the Blues on top through the first frame, but the lead wouldn’t last long. With under five minutes passed in the second period, Kevin Shattenkirk tried to clear the puck from behind the Blues’ net. Dale Weise made a good read on the puck, stole it, then beat Jake Allen with a wrist shot to tie the game. Shattenkirk attempted to block Weise’s shot, but knocked down Jake Allen in the process.
Max Pacioretty gave the Habs the lead with a breakaway goal just a few minutes after Montreal tied it up. The Canadians took a 2-1 lead into the third period.
Max Pacioretty was not done. Pacioretty somehow got behind the Blues’ defense for the second time and beat Allen with another wrist shot. Former Blues’ forward Lars Eller tacked on a fourth Montreal goal late to make this contest out of reach for St Louis.
For the second time in as many games, the St Louis Blues have out-shot their opponents only to get beaten. Carey Price stopped 31 out of 32 Blues’ shots on net, while Max Pacioretty scored his ninth and tenth goals of the season.
This was a game the Blues need to forget about, fast. All four Montreal goals came at even strength.
Montreal improves to 15-5-1 and continue to lead the entire league with 31 points. St Louis falls to 12-6-1 and remain one point back of Nashville in the Central Division.
The Blues continue the road trip Saturday at Ottawa. Puck drops at 2 PM CST and can be seen on FS-MW or heard on KMOX 1120.
