|
 Not that the one-goal deficit and massive shot differential
didn't do a lot of the talking for them.
"The results and the shots speak for themselves," Blues center and
captain David Backes said. "We just came in here and regrouped."
It worked, as the Blues erased that deficit, then another late in
the third period on their way to a 4-3 shootout victory against the
New York Rangers on Monday night at Madison Square Garden.
Right winger Vladimir Tarasenko scored the deciding shootout goal
along with a power-play goal in the second period. He also assisted
on defenseman Jay Bouwmeester's tying goal with 5:27 remaining in
the third period to help push the game beyond regulation.
The 22-year-old Tarasenko, who has seven goals this season and six
in his past four games, has been a big reason why the Blues (7-3-1)
have won five straight. Tarasenko's regulation goal was a thing of
beauty, as he carved through four Rangers penalty killers before
depositing the puck behind goaltender Cam Talbot to tie the score at
1 early in the second period.
"Yeah, that's not a bad play that he makes," said Backes, his tongue
firmly planted in cheek. "I think I had the best seat in the house
to watch it. He's as dynamic of a goal scorer as anyone I've ever
played with."
Even with the first-period "fireside chat," as coach Ken Hitchcock
called it and Tarasenko's talent on full display, goaltender Brian
Elliott was fantastic while facing a barrage of shots. He stopped 36
in all and made six saves in overtime, helping to set the stage for
Tarasenko's shootout heroics.
Elliott also benefited from his defense, when all five skaters piled
in front of a vacated net as Elliott sprawled back to cover the
loose puck to end a sequence that saw defenseman Kevin Shattenkirk
absorb a shot with his chest.
"I was the furthest guy from the net," Elliott said. "That's never
really happened before. That's the type of win we need, everybody
coming together and working for each other. That was a key play for
us tonight."
The Rangers looked like they were going to escape with two points
when right winger Martin St. Louis scored twice in the third period
to pull New York ahead 3-2 after Blues center Patrik Berglund puts
his team on top 2-1 earlier in the period. But Bouwmeester's goal
beat an unscreened Talbot, who was making his second start of the
season.
[to top of second column] |
"We did a great job to battle back, but just couldn't finish it
off," Talbot said.
"There were a lot of positives we take out of tonight," said St.
Louis, who has three goals this season. "This is a game of results,
we have to find ways, and we didn't. We got plenty of opportunities
in overtime, and we just didn't get it."
The Rangers fell to 5-4-2 on the season, but it's a commendable
start considering they have played the entire season without center
Derek Stepan, all but one game without defenseman Dan Boyle and
faced the Blues without defensemen Ryan McDonagh, Kevin Klein and
John Moore.
"We know the type of adversity we are facing, going into the season
without (Stepan) and with Boyle getting hurt the first game of the
year," St. Louis said. "Every game is a different battle and we are
trying to find a way. ... We are just trying to keep building it up
and gradually you get guys back, but again you lose guys along the
way too. It's finding ways."
NOTES: The Blues were without two key forwards: C Paul Stastny
(shoulder) and RW T.J. Oshie (concussion). ... G Jake Allen is
expected to get the start in New Jersey on Tuesday night against the
Devils. ... Rangers D Conor Allen and D Dylan McIlrath entered
Monday with five combined games of NHL experience. Allen played
13:03 while McIlrath took two minor penalties in 8:02. ... Rangers
LW Ryan Malone, who cleared waivers Monday, was in the lineup in
place of LW Mats Zuccarello, who was scratched due to an undisclosed
injury. ... LW Chris Kreider's first-period power-play was the
Rangers' third this season (3-for-32) with the man-advantage.
[© 2014 Thomson Reuters. All rights
reserved.]
Copyright 2014 Reuters. All rights reserved. This material may not be published,
broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
 |
