Elliott, Steen lead Blues to 4-0 win over Panthers

[November 02, 2013]  SUNRISE, Fla. (AP) -- Brian Elliott stopped 31 shots for his first win of the season, and Alexander Steen scored for the sixth straight game as the St. Louis Blues beat the Florida Panthers 4-0 on Friday night.

Alex Pietrangelo, Chris Stewart and Derek Roy added goals, and Steen posted his NHL-leading 12th this season. David Backes had two assists for St. Louis, which won its third straight.

Elliott hadn't earned a win since April 27 against Chicago. His previous shutout was April 11 at Minnesota.

Jacob Markstrom made 19 saves for Florida, which lost for the fifth time in six games.

Already ahead 1-0, the Blues broke the game open with three goals in just over five minutes in the second period.

St. Louis doubled its lead on Stewart's goal. Barret Jackman passed from the point to Stewart below the left circle for an angled shot from the side that got past Markstrom at 5:21.

The Blues stretched their lead to 3-0 with a power-play goal by Pietrangelo at 7:06. A drive by Backes was blocked by Markstrom, but Pietrangelo tipped in the rebound.

Steen finished the scoring when he wristed in a rebound at 10:42.

Roy put the Blues ahead in the first period with a backhander from the slot that hit the right post, bounced out, hit Markstrom's pads and drifted back across the goal line with 4:19 left in the first.

NOTES: Blues C Maxim Lapierre returned after serving a five-game suspension for a hit on San Jose's Dan Boyle on Oct. 15. ... The Blues played an NHL-low 10 games in October but will play 15 in November. ... The Panthers have lost four straight to the Blues, including a 7-0 rout on Oct. 5. ... Florida went 1-3-2 on a season-high, six game homestand.

[Associated Press; By PAUL GEREFFI]

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