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 This season feels much different.
"We like the fact that we're playing good hockey now with three
games left," Backes said. "We've won three in a row. If we're
kicking on all cylinders, then it's a smooth transition."
The red-hot Blues moved to the front of the Western Conference's
Central Division race. They relied on goals from Backes and center
Olli Jokinen en route to a 2-1 win against the Chicago Blackhawks on
Sunday night.
St. Louis (49-23-7) pulled one point ahead of the Nashville
Predators and three points ahead of Chicago with three
regular-season games remaining for each team.
Right winger Kris Versteeg scored for the Blackhawks. The loss
snapped a four-game winning streak for Chicago (48-25-6), which like
St. Louis already has clinched a playoff berth.
"We pushed at the end," Blackhawks coach Joel Quenneville said. "I
thought we had stretches where it was OK, but at the end of the day
it was a big four-point swing."
Blues goaltender Jake Allen stopped 38 of 39 shots to improve to
21-6-4. Allen stuffed Blackhawks left winger Bryan Bickell on a
two-on-zero breakaway with center Andrew Shaw, and he cut the angle
on a shot by right winger Marian Hossa that clanked off the post.
Allen said he tried to be smart about when to stay deep and when to
challenge shooters.
"Sometimes, you have the opportunity to be aggressive," Allen said.
"You've just got to pick your save selection. That's something that
has grown with me since my five years (as a) pro."
Blackhawks goaltender Corey Crawford turned aside 31 of 33 shots in
the loss. He earned a pair of standing ovations after point-blank
saves against Jokinen in the first period and center Paul Stastny in
the second before St. Louis broke through.
"They have some skill guys, obviously," Crawford said. "Different
looks. They have some 'D-men' too that jump in the rush. They're
pretty well-rounded offensively, I would say."
The Blackhawks grabbed a 1-0 lead on a one-timer by Versteeg with
5:48 to go in the first period. Hossa set up the goal when he
intercepted a clearing attempt by Blues center T.J. Oshie and
slipped a pass to Versteeg, who tapped in his first goal since Feb.
24.
Backes evened the score on the power play with 13:53 remaining in
the second period. Center Jaden Schwartz controlled the puck in the
low slot and fed a pinpoint pass to Backes, who punched in his 26th
goal from the right of the crease.
St. Louis grabbed a 2-1 lead on a wrist shot by Jokinen from about
10 feet in front of the net. Jokinen lifted the shot above
Crawford's outstretched leg pad for his fourth goal of the season
and his first with the Blues, who acquired him March 2 from the
Toronto Maple Leafs.
Quenneville pulled Crawford for an extra skater with 1:16 remaining
in the third period, but the Blues cleared the puck several times to
seal the win. Chicago struggled to produce high quality scoring
chances against St. Louis, which posted a 50-27 advantage in hits.
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Blues coach Ken Hitchcock said he liked his team's resolve.
"This is the way we're going to have to win games," Hitchcock said.
"The part I liked the best was that when we got the lead, we managed
the game. We didn't sit back.
"If you're going to win in the playoffs, you're going to have to
play long minutes with a lead or tied and put good quality minutes
in, and that's what I was happiest about."
Chicago defenseman Kimmo Timonen was injured in the first period and
did not return. Timonen slammed face-first into the boards after a
hard hit by Blues right winger Ryan Reaves.
St. Louis defenseman Robert Bortuzzo also sustained an upper-body
injury in the first period and did not return.
NOTES: Blues RW Vladimir Tarasenko missed his third consecutive game
because of a lower-body injury. Tarasenko leads St. Louis in scoring
with 36 goals and 35 assists in 76 games. ... Blackhawks D Michal
Rozsival returned to the lineup in place of D David Rundblad, who
was a healthy scratch. ... Blues LW Alexander Steen missed his
fourth game because of a lower-body injury. ... Blackhawks RW
Patrick Kane (broken collarbone) sat out his 18th game. Kane is not
expected to return for the regular season but could be available for
part of the playoffs. ... D Barret Jackman appeared in his 800th
career game, all of them with St. Louis. Jackman trails only Bernie
Federko (927) on the franchise's all-time list for games played.
Blues coach Ken Hitchcock said he liked his team's resolve.
"This is the way we're going to have to win games," Hitchcock said.
"The part I liked the best was that when we got the lead, we managed
the game. We didn't sit back.
"If you're going to win in the playoffs, you're going to have to
play long minutes with a lead or tied and put good quality minutes
in, and that's what I was happiest about."
Chicago defenseman Kimmo Timonen was injured in the first period and
did not return. Timonen slammed face-first into the boards after a
hard hit by Blues right winger Ryan Reaves.
St. Louis defenseman Robert Bortuzzo also sustained an upper-body
injury in the first period and did not return.
NOTES: Blues RW Vladimir Tarasenko missed his third consecutive game
because of a lower-body injury. Tarasenko leads St. Louis in scoring
with 36 goals and 35 assists in 76 games. ... Blackhawks D Michal
Rozsival returned to the lineup in place of D David Rundblad, who
was a healthy scratch. ... Blues LW Alexander Steen missed his
fourth game because of a lower-body injury. ... Blackhawks RW
Patrick Kane (broken collarbone) sat out his 18th game. Kane is not
expected to return for the regular season but could be available for
part of the playoffs. ... D Barret Jackman appeared in his 800th
career game, all of them with St. Louis. Jackman trails only Bernie
Federko (927) on the franchise's all-time list for games played.
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