The St Louis Blues welcomed hockey legend Patrick Roy and his Colorado Avalanche to Scottrade Center Saturday night for a Central Division rivalry featuring last year’s Calder Trophy winner Nathan MacKinnon against the red hot Blues’ defense. Colorado is coming off a 5-0 win against the New York Islanders, a game in which MacKinnon accounted for two goals. The Blues were looking to extend their winning streak to a season high four games.
At the 2:57 mark in the first period, St Louis would have their first power play opportunity against a Colorado team that has killed 17 power plays in a row, thanks to an interference call against Matt Duchene. Two minutes later, the Avs would make it 18 straight penalties killed as the Blues were unable to make anything happen with the one-man advantage.
With 3:31 to go in the first, Vladimir Tarasenko rocketed a loose puck from the high-slot by Semyon Varlamov to give the Blues a 1-0 lead. Alex Steen and Barret Jackman would be credited with assists. The goal would be Tarasenko’s fifth of the young season.
Tarasenko spent the first period peppering Varlamov, as he tallied five of the 11 Blues’ shots on net in the opening frame. As impressive as Vladi’s time on the ice was, the Blues’ defense was the real story, allowing only two shots in the first 20 minutes of play.
With 11:57 left in the second, Jori Lehtera was called for slashing and was sent to the penalty box for two minutes. The Blues’ defense would face their only real test to this point in the game, facing an Avs power play unit that has been on fire over their last five games, scoring over 27% of the time during that span. Colorado would have no success on the power play as the St Louis penalty kill unit held their ground.
The second period would end with St Louis nursing a one goal lead, but Brian Elliott had to put in a little work in the middle frame. Elliott turned away all 12 shots Colorado put on him, including a diving glove-save to rob a point blank Alex Tanguay wrist shot.
The third period opened up with Alex Pietrangelo firing a shot from the point. A slashing Tarasenko redirected the puck passed Varlamov, giving the Blues a two goal lead. Shortly after, Magnus Paajarvi was hit with a two minute minor, giving the Avalanche a one-man advantage. This woke up the Avs offense as Ryan O’Reilly put back a rebound to give Colorado a goal on their second power play chance of the night.
At the 5:13 mark in the third, an Ian Cole cross-checking penalty proved to be very costly, as Nathan MacKinnon scored his third goal of the season on a snap-shot to tie the game at two. Both Colorado goals came with the Blues being down a man.
With just over 11 minutes remaining in regulation, the Blues gave Colorado their fourth power play chance of the evening as Ryan Reaves was called for a cross-check against John Mitchell. St Louis’ penalty kill unit kept Colorado off the score board after allowing goals on two consecutive power plays.
There was 5:58 left on the clock when the Blues caught what they thought was a break. Colorado’s Nick Holden tried to dump the puck into the offensive zone. Instead, Holden launched it into the stands and was called for a delay of game, giving the Blues their third power play. St Louis was only able to get off two shots as Colorado’s defense killed the penalty.
Regulation ended tied at two. The Avs heated things up in the third, putting 12 shots on net, scoring two.
The overtime period had very little drama. Each team put two shots on goal. This divisional matchup would head to a shootout.
After misses by Alex Steen for St Louis and Gabriel Landeskog for Colorado, Joakim Lindstrom shook Varlamov just enough to find room for his wrist shot to hit the back of the net. Brian Elliott stoned the final two shots he’d face in the shootout and sent the Blues’ faithful home happy.
Vladimir Tarasenko was named player of the game with his two-goal night. Tonight’s game gave Tarasenko his fifth goal this week. St Louis goal tending hasn’t allowed an even-strength goal since Tyler Seguin of the Stars scored tuesday, over 144 minutes ago.
The loss drops Colorado’s record to 3-4-5, while this makes the Blues fourth consecutive win. St Louis moves to 6-3-1, and picks up two more points with the victory.
The Blues travel to New York to face the Rangers Monday. The puck drops at 6 PM CST and can be seen on FS-MW or heard on KMOX 1120.
