– Photo by Jonathan Kozub/NHLI via Getty Images
For the sixth shootout in a row, the Blues came out victorious led by Vladamir Tarasenko and Alexander Steen.
The Blues defeated Winnipeg 2-1 in the final attempt of the shootout and improve to 39-18-4 and 82 points. The Blues are three points ahead of the Chicago Blackhawks and seven points behind the Nashville Predators for the division lead.
Prior to the shootout, Winnipeg goaltender Michael Hutchinson had stopped all 14 shootout attempts faced. The Blues scored in two out of three attempts.
In the first period, Winnipeg controlled play early on with six shots to the Blues’ two in the opening ten minutes of play. But, Brian Elliott stood tall turning aside all 11 shots faced in the opening 20 minutes of the game.
Despite struggling in the offensive zone in the first period, the Blues scored first in the second period.
Chris Butler and Ryan Reaves helped with the break out in defensive zone. Reaves passed it to Paul Stastny breaking into the offensive zone before Stastny sent a saucer pass over the stick of Jay Harrison. The puck landed on the blade of Patrik Berglund who scored high over Hutchinson to make it 1-0 with 1:49 remaining in the period.
The Jets answered in the third period as Andrew Ladd carried the puck into the attacking zone. Ladd took a shot that was blocked away by Alex Pietrangelo. Michael Frolik picked up the puck behind the goal and shielded away from Carl Gunnarsson before wheeling the puck on net. Elliott made the stop, but Ladd picked up the puck and gave it to Mark Scheifele in front of the net who scored to tie the game 3:14 into the period.
Late in the period, David Backes went to the box with :57 remaining the in the third, but the score remained tied at the end of regulation.
In overtime, the Blues fought off the penalty kill allowing just one shot on net.
With under three minutes remaining in overtime, Scheifele went to the box after tripping Petteri Lindbohm. On the power play, T.J. Oshie took a slap shot turned aside by Hutchinson to keep the game tied headed to a shootout.
Elliott made the first stop on Bryan Little swooping in wide to Elliott’s left. Hutchinson also made the stop on Oshie’s attempt.
On the second attempt for the Blues after a save by Elliott, Tarasenko faked the shot and then delayed allowing Hutchinson to go to the ice. Tarasenko then shot it past Hutchinson to give the Blues the advantage.
In the final attempt for Winnipeg, Ladd took a shot that just trickled over the glove of Elliott as Elliott did not get enough of the shot to make the save.
But in the final shot for St. Louis, Steen deked to the left, then right and then slid it past Hutchinson’s left pad giving the Blues the victory.
The Blues continue their three-game session in Canada on the road against the Edmonton Oilers Saturday, Feb. 28 at 9 p.m. CT.
