Photo by: (AP Photo/Billy Hurst)
It seemed like the St. Louis Blues had it in the bag going into the final minutes of the game against the Chicago Blackhawks before Chicago netted a clutch goal to tie the game. But, St. Louis showed its resiliency in shootout to earn a 3-2 victory.
In the win, Jake Allen had one of his best showings of the season stopping 33 out of 35 shots faced. The Blues’ power play was also a x-factor as they went 2-3 in route to the win.
Following the victory, the Blues remain third in the division with a record of 39-20-9 with 87 points. St. Louis gained a point, but the Blackhawks and Stars each remain a point ahead.
Late in the first period with the Blackhawks on an extended power play, Brent Seabrook took a shot on net. Allen made the first stop, then sprawled out to shut the door on not one, not two but three attempts along the crease by the league’s leading goal-scorer Patrick Kane.
After a scoreless first period, the Blackhawks struck first.
Still on the power play, Michal Rozsival passed across the point to Teuvo Teravainen. Newly-acquired Andrew Ladd was there in front to deflect the shot home giving Chicago a 1-0 lead with 18:46 left in the second period.
The Blues finally got on the board in the third period after being held scoreless for 48:46 of the game.
On the power play, Kevin Shattenkirk held the puck at the point, cocked and fired a low shot on net. David Backes stood tall in front of Corey Crawford and deflected the shot off his stick and the left pad of Crawford into the net to tie the game at one.
The Blues wasted little time before taking their first lead of the game on the power play again. St. Louis and Chicago battled for the puck by the boards as the puck squirted in the air. Colton Parayko gloved the puck to his stick and passed to Robby Fabbri who quickly gave it low to Paul Stastny. Stastny found Troy Brouwer in front who beat Crawford low to the blocker side making it 2-1 with 6:40 left in regulation.
But as they always seem to do, the Chicago Blackhawks were resilient and clawed their way back late in the game.
With Chicago’s net empty, Duncan Keith passed to the attacking zone dot where captain Jonathan Toews one-touched a pass to Artemi Panarin who slapped a shot into the net tying the game at two with just over a minute left in the game.
After a scoreless overtime and five rounds completed in shootout, Shattenkirk had the game winner on his blade. Shattenkirk swept in and faked to his forehand before roofing a shot over the glove of Crawford.
Teravainen did not score on his chance as Allen helped seal the two points for the Blues.
Next up for St. Louis is a test against the red-hot Anaheim Ducks Friday, March 11 at home.
