-Photo by Scott Rovak/NHLI via Getty Images
After two consecutive wins, St. Louis picked up right where it left off with a 7-2 win as the Blues have now outscored opponents 20-4 in the past three games.
After a pad save by Brian Elliott, Vladamir Tarasenko picked up the puck in transition and passed it to Jaden Schwartz. Schwartz broke into the offensive zone and sent it back to Tarasenko who gave a one-touch pass to Alexander Steen who shot and scored his 11th of the season with 9:22 remaining in the first period to put the Blues ahead 1-0.
With under five minutes left in the period, St. Louis added to its lead as Tarasenko cycled the puck down to Jori Lehtera in the offensive zone. Lehtera gave a returning pass to Tarasenko, and Tarasenko fired a pass to Jay Bouwmeester at the blue line. Bouwmeester launched a low wrist shot that beat Antti Niemi to give the Blues a 2-0 lead. The goal was Bouwmeester’s first goal since Nov. 3 against the New York Rangers after the defenseman tallied 37 points last season.
The goals came in bunches, but this time it was San Jose’s turn.
On a St. Louis power play, Logan Couture picked up the puck in the neutral zone and went in on a two on one. Couture delayed as Alex Pietrangelo slid to the ice before Couture fired a shorthanded goal into the net to make it 2-1 with 1:33 remaining in the period.
But just as the Blues have done all season long, they responded. With the Blues still on the power play, Stastny and T.J. Oshie did a give and go as Stastny scored his 9th of the season sending St. Louis to the locker room with a two-goal lead after 20 minutes of play.
Despite an early second period goal by the Sharks, the second period would be more of the same for The Note. In the middle of the period, Schwartz carried the puck into the attacking end and sent it over to Lehtera who fired in his 9th of the season to once again give St. Louis a two-goal lead with 11:08 remaining in the period.
The Blues would add to their lead after a near turnover in their own end, the puck found its way up to Steen in the offensive zone. Steen delayed and shot high on net as Niemi made the blocker save, but the rebound bounced right in front of the net as Oshie swooped in for his 11th of the season to make it 5-2 with 6:30 left in the second period.
The third period was more of the same for the Blues as Patrik Berglund scored on a wrap around attempt in the middle of the period. Then David Backes fired a snap shot into the back of the net for his 5th goal in the past two games to make it 7-2 for the final.
With the win the Blues improve to 24-13-3 and now sit fourth in the Western Conference.
St. Louis will be back on the ice Saturday Jan. 10 against the Carolina Hurricanes who bring with them the second worst record in the National Hockey League. The game is set at 7 p.m. CT.
