– Photo by Dilip Vishwanat/NHLI via Getty Images
After 65 minutes of scoreless hockey, the Blues capitalized in shootout to get the 1-0 victory against the Philadelphia Flyers.
With the win, St. Louis is now tied with the Nashville Predators for the division lead at 91 points. The Blues are also seven points ahead of the Chicago Blackhawks in the Central Division.
The Blues now have split the season series against the Flyers 1-1.
In net, Brian Elliott got his fourth-straight start, and stopped all 28 shots faced for his team-leading fourth shut out of the season.
Elliott stood tall in the first period stopping all 10 shots faced after allowing four goals on just 16 shots faced.
Late in the first period, Vladamir Tarasenko took a shot that was blocked down in front, but Jaden Schwartz tried to corral the bouncing puck. Schwartz got a shot off in front of Steve Mason, but Mason made the save to keep the game scoreless after 20 minutes of play.
In the second period, the Blues controlled play with opportunities throughout the period. Tarasenko went in on net on a two-on-one, but his pass was knocked away keeping the score 0-0 over 10 minutes remaining in the second period.
Tarasenko’s opportunities kept coming as Schwartz sent a centering pass that Tarsenko failed to control keeping the game scoreless.
Although St. Louis held Philadelphia to six shots in the second period, Wayne Simmons got a break away chance on the power play, but was just offside as he received the pass with just over 5:30 left in the second period.
Simmons got another opportunity along the goal line with just over 15 minutes remaining in the third period. Simmons received the pass from the point and back-handed a shot just off Elliott’s shoulder.
With under 10 minutes remaining in the third period, and the score still 0-0, the Flyers turned the puck over to Tarasenko in front of the net. Tarasenko moved past a defender and passed to Jori Lehtera on the far side. Lehtera attempted to slide a shot low past Mason, but Mason was there with the left pad to make the save.
The game remained scoreless after the overtime session, and the game went to a shootout.
T.J. Oshie and Tarasenko scored in their first attempts as Elliott stopped both shots faced to give St. Louis the extra point.
Oshie leads the team in shootout percentage, and is the only player with an over 50 percent shootout percentage.
The Blues will look to gain two points against Nashville on Saturday, Mar. 14 against the Minnesota Wild at 7 p.m.
