|
 Tarasenko snapped a 1-1 tie with a power-play goal with 5:20 to play
in the third period to lift St. Louis to the 2-1 win over the
Nashville Predators, giving the Blues back-to-back wins for the
first time since they won three in a row from Nov. 4-10.
The goal was Tarasenko's 20th of the season, tying him with left
winger Jamie Been of the Dallas Stars for the league lead. It also
was his fourth consecutive game with a goal, equaling the longest
streak of his career.
"Any win," said Hitchcock, who turned 64 on Thursday. "You look up
at the scoreboard and all of the wrong teams are winning and you go
'man it's going to be a big loss for somebody to not win this game'
because everybody in this division is winning hockey games."
It was the second consecutive win for the Blues after trailing at
the end of the second period. Center David Backes tied the game with
his 10th goal of the year 2:38 into the period, off a deflection of
a shot from defenseman Alex Pietrangelo.
"It's a hard way to make a living like that," said Hitchcock, whose
team had come back from a 3-2 deficit in the final period to win
Tuesday night in Winnipeg.
Backes also was in front of the net when Tarasenko lined up his
shot, just 26 seconds after Nashville left winger Viktor Arvidsson
was called for tripping.
"The man can shoot the puck," Backes said of Tarasenko. "It's
impressive. I was praying in front that he misses me and if I can
get the goalie's eyes it's got a great chance. Even if he saved it
there would be a rebound out there somewhere."
Added Hitchcock, "He's got 20 goals but I'll bet 16 or 17 of them
are really important goals. I think that's been the small difference
for us why we've been able to have the record we've got. He's been
outstanding when the game's on the line."
Tarasenko said the Blues are confident they can win games coming
from behind, but that it's something he hopes they can avoid in the
future.
"I think everybody would agree with me that it's not the style we
want to play," he said. "We want to dominate all three periods,
especially at home. You can chase every game and it's really hard."
[to top of second column] |
The Blues have outscored their opponents by 17 goals in the third
period.
They fell behind 7:14 into the game on a power-play goal by
defenseman Roman Josi, his eighth of the year. The goal came when
right winger Troy Brouwer was off the ice for interference.
It ended a streak of 23 consecutive penalty kills for the Blues and
was the first power-play goal they had allowed in 10 games. The
Blues lead the league in percentage of penalties killed.
"It's just not good enough," said Predators defenseman Shea Weber.
"It doesn't matter if you're out chancing teams. ... What matters is
the score and we've just got to be better."
The Predators have won only two of their last eight games and are
now 8-6-2 against Western Conference opponents.
"I don't know that there's a set answer," said Nashville coach Peter
Laviolette. "We've got to figure it out pretty quick and start
putting some wins on the board."
NOTES: After playing 803 games for the Blues, including 395 at
Scottrade Center over 13 seasons, Nashville D Barret Jackman played
his first career game against the Blues in St. Louis on Thursday
night. Jackman, second all-time in games played for the Blues,
signed as a free agent with the Predators last summer. ... RW Colin
Wilson (lower body) returned to the Predators lineup after missing
the last four games. ... C Patrik Berglund, who has not played for
the Blues after shoulder surgery in August, resumed skating with the
team and is projected to be ready for game action sometime after
Jan. 1. ... The Blues will host Calgary on Saturday while the
Predators return home to play Minnesota.
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