-Photo by Norm Hall/NHLI via Getty Images
It has been a difficult stretch for the Blues as they had lost six out of seven games before winning against San Jose 7-2. The strong play by the Blues translated into the next game as they defeated the Arizona Coyotes 6-0. Three second period goals and one in the third by captain David Backes help seal the win for St. Louis.
In the first period, Mike Smith lost control of the puck behind his own net leading to a turnover by the Coyotes. Paul Stastny picked up the turnover next to the crease and scored his 8th of the season to give St. Louis a 1-0 lead with 12:03 remaining in the period.
The Blues dominated in the offensive end logging 15 shots in the period including quality chances from Vladamir Tarasenko and Stastny.
The second period was more of the same for The Note, as Stastny fed the puck out to the point to Shattenkirk. Shattenkirk pulled the defender towards the center of the ice and slid it back to Stastny who sent it right to T.J. Oshie. Oshie found Backes on the back-door pass to extend the lead to two 6:15 into the period.
The captain wasted little time getting back on the board as Oshie gathered the puck in neutral zone and passed it to Backes in stride. Backes went in on goal untouched and ripped a shot into the back of the net for his second of the game.
Number 42 for the Blues was not done yet in the period as Patrik Berglund carried the puck into the offensive zone and sent it across the ice to Backes who netted his first hat trick of the season to make it 4-0 as the Blues held a comfortable lead through two periods of play. Backes tied his career high for goals in a single game with four as he did back on April 2 agains the Detroit Red Wings.
Three goals was not enough for Backes as he dove and knocked in a back-door pass from Alexander Steen to extend the lead to five just over four minutes into the third period. Jaden Schwartz would add a power play goal to put salt in the wound for the Coyotes as the Blues win their second game in a row.
In net, Brian Elliott was not test often, but came away with a 23-save shutout for the Blues.
St. Louis has outscored opponents 13-2 in the past two games and improves to 23-13-3 with 49 points.
The Blues next matchup will be against the San Jose Sharks this time at home Thursday Jan. 8 at 7 p.m. CT.
