– Photo by Dilip Vishwanat/NHLI via Getty Images
Following a three-game win streak, the Blues were dominated by the Dallas Stars 4-1 at home.
After the loss, St. Louis remains second in the Central Division behind Nashville. The Predators (82) are four points ahead of the Blues (78).
Dallas captain Jamie Benn led the way with his second hat trick in less than a month to propel the Stars.
In net for the Blues, Brian Elliott allowed three goals on six shots after a 40-save performance against Florida. Jake Allen came in to relieve Elliott just 8:38 into the game and allowed one goal on 16 shots.
In the first period, Benn opened the floodgates for the Stars with a slap shot past Elliott on Dallas’s second shot of the game. Rookie John Klingberg and Jason Spezza tallied assists on the play to help put Dallas out in front 1-0 with 17:13 left in the opening session.
Benn added to the scoring just six minutes later as Spezza sent the puck over to the captain who fired a wrist shot past Elliott to make it 2-0.
Just 20 seconds later, Cody Eakin joined the scoring party for Dallas as he beat Elliott on just the sixth shot by the Stars in the period.
In the second period, the Blues outshot the Stars 13-5, but it was Dallas that struck next.
Spezza added his third assist when he sent a cross-ice pass to Benn. Benn lost the handle, but regained it and sent a wrist shot into the upper right corner. Allen was screened on the play and the goal made it 4-0 with 16:21 remaining in the second period.
It took 52:30 for the Blues to get their first goal of the game, and it came from the blade of Patrik Berglund. Paul Stastny dug the puck out from along the side boards and sent a backhand drop pass to Berglund curling around the circle. Berglund sent a shot low to the glove side of Kari Lehtonen to make it 4-1.
Despite the goal, Dallas cruised to victory despite amassing just 22 shots on net to the Blues’ 28.
St. Louis looks to get back on track against the Boston Bruins at the Scottrade Center on Friday, Feb. 20 at 7 p.m. CT.
