|
 Steen scored on a pretty three-way passing play in the second period
and collected an assist as the St. Louis Blues used a 4-3 victory to
snap a two-year losing streak against the Vancouver Canucks on
Friday night.
Steen laughed when reminded it was the first time St. Louis had
beaten Vancouver since a 2-1 shootout win back on April 16, 2013.
"I don't know man," he said. "That's not something that goes through
our heads. It's a new year.
"We just wanted to come in a play a good game."
The game wasn't as close as the final score indicated. St. Louis led
4-1 after Kyle Brodziak's goal at 16:14 of the third period.
The Canucks got a couple of late goals, one from left winger Daniel
Sedin off a scramble with 28.8 seconds left after Vancouver pulled
their goalie.
The win was even sweeter because the Blues (4-1-0) were playing
after a win over Edmonton on Thursday night. It also was their
fourth game in six nights.
"That's what makes it extra special to get a good, character win
like that," said Brodziak, who collected his first point of the
season. "To battle through and play a smart game against a skill
group, that controls the puck in the zone."
Centers Jori Lehtera and defenseman Robert Bortuzzo also scored for
the Blues. Right winger Vladimir Tarasenko added two assists.
Steen's goal started when Tarasenko intercepted a long pass from
Canuck defenseman Alex Edler. Tarasenko then passed to center Paul
Stastny as he broke into the Vancouver zone. Stastny passed back to
Tarasenko, who then slipped it over to Steen, who beat Canuck
goaltender Ryan Miller.
"Our unit has pretty good chemistry," said Steen. "We discuss
everything.
"That goal was just plain hockey sense from both guys. Stastny made
an unreal backhand pass to Tarasenko. He just one-touches it over.
Empty net for me. I'll take those."
Stastny left the game later in the second period after taking a shot
off his right leg. Blues coach Ken Hitchcock said Stastny would be
evaluated on Saturday.
Centers Brandon Sutter (shorthanded) and Jared McCann scored for
Vancouver (3-1-1).
Center Henrik Sedin said Vancouver dug themselves a hole they
couldn't get out of.
"I didn't think we played well enough to be in this game," said the
Canuck captain. "We're a team that battles and you've got to give us
some credit for that, but a little too late.
"We have to have a better start. It's something we have to look at
and come up better next game."
The Canucks continue to struggle on the power play. There were 0-5
against St. Louis and are now 1-18 on the season.
[to top of second column] |
Vancouver had a chance to get back into the game when Tarasenko was
given a four-minute high-sticking penalty late in the second period.
The Canucks managed just three shots.
"We spent a lot of time on it tonight," defenseman Dan Hamhuis said
about the power play. "It could have been the difference maker. It
needs to be in big games like this.
"The guys are working hard on it at practice. We have to find ways
to get pucks to the net and be there. It always goes back to
execution, shots and screens."
The Canucks outshot the Blues 34-32. Blues goaltender Jake Allen was
called on to make some big saves late in the game when the Blues
seemed to be running out of gas.
"We knew we had our hands full," said Allen.
"We battled. We grinded. It wasn't pretty but it doesn't have to be.
We got the two points."
Hitchcock said his team was fatigued at the end.
"We lost our energy in the second killing all those penalties, but
we got it back in the third," he said. "You could see the effects of
playing (three games) in four nights in the last five minutes of the
game. But we held it together."
NOTES: Rookie C Jared McCann and RW Jake Virtanen both dressed for
the Canucks. It was the first time since November 1988 the Canucks
dressed two 19-year-olds. ... LW Sven Baertschi was a healthy
scratch. ... The Canucks have six consecutive wins against the
Blues. ... C Brandon Sutter played in his 500th NHL game. ... The
Canucks continue a five-game home-stand Sunday against Edmonton.
.... Blues' D Kevin Shattenkirk missed the game with a lower-body
injury suffered in Thursday's win against Calgary. .... C Scott
Gomez, who earned a spot with the Blues during a tryout in training
camp, played his first game. ... LW Robby Fabbri missed the game due
to concussion. ... No Blue had more than one goal against the
Canucks last season. ... St. Louis played its first of 12
back-to-back sets. ... The Blues, who beat Edmonton Friday, continue
their season-high, six-game road trip Sunday in Winnipeg.
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