St. Louis Blues Explode Offensively Against Arizona 6-4

The St. Louis Blues came into Arizona riding a hot streak and looking to establish their longest winning streak of the season. It ended up being a game of ups and downs and plenty of good and bad.

Things did not start according to plan as Shane Doan scored for the Coyotes on a wrap around on the game’s first shot. For as great as Brian Elliott has played, it was not the kind of goal he can let up that early in the contest, if ever. The Blues, as a whole, came out a bit sluggish, but that wouldn’t last too long.

Only minutes later, Vladimir Tarasenko bailed out the team as he fired a twisted wrister from the top of the circle moments after drawing the powerplay. Shortly after that the Blues got a second from Alexander Steen. Steener looked like has been under a construction apprenticeship with the roofjob he put on the Coyotes goaltender.

Unfortunately, that was the last of the good news for him. Steen got injured with 12:57 left in the first period when he went in awkwardly to the boards. It was not the kind of injury that gives you much hope going forward, but the team rebounded from it nicely.

Jaden Schwartz made up for the loss as he continued his unbelievable hot streak with his fourth goal to make it 3-1. Then Gunnarsson scored to make it 4-1 in what would be called an own goal in soccer. Initially the goal was given to Troy Brouwer, but it actually went off one of the Coyotes defenseman’s stick.

The Blues offense kept buzzing as Patrik Berglund hit the post not long after Arizona switched goalies. It was a period filled with good and bad. In the end 4-1 was how the first frame ended.

The second wasn’t quite as glamourous. The Coyotes cut the lead to two when Kevin Connauton beat Elliott on the glove side a little under halfway through the period. Again, it was a goal that probably should not have gone in, but as much as Elliott has carried the Blues any one would give it a pass.

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To add insult to injury (literally), Robby Fabbri left to the locker room in the period as well. Again, any timetable is unknown at this point but the way the season has gone it would figure the Blues could lose two of their hottest scorers in one game after getting one back.

While Fabbri returned to the Blues’ bench, the rest of the team stayed in the locker room mentally. Only 50 seconds into the third, Max Domi tied it up after the defense got caught after a giveaway on the wall leaving Elliott no chance.

Yet, with the Coyotes grasping momentum the Blues snatched it back. Pushing his way to the front of the net, Berglund tipped in a great feed from Scottie Upshall from the near wall for his fifth of the season and fifth of the game.

Arizona wouldn’t go quietly into the night though.  With only 33 seconds left in the third period, the puck was bouncing around in front of the net.  Domi took it over to the near circle and just fired it toward net.  It deflected in past an unsuspecting Brian Elliott and put the pressure back on.

The Blues weren’t about to let this one slip away.  With the win all but in the bag, David Backes finally put the nail in the coffin when he scored on the empty net with 0.3 seconds remaining.  While it was a goal that won’t matter much in the end, the Blues struggle to score on empty nets and it was positive to see them get one.

As mentioned, it was a game of ups and downs.  The first period was about as good a start as the Blues have seen in their streak, the initial goal not withstanding.  It was a bit of an implosion by the Coyotes, but the Blues definitely played a big part in that initial 4-1 score.

Despite some defensive lapses and a rare wobbly performance from Elliott, the main thing is the Blues got the victory.  The win, coupled with a Dallas Stars 7-3 loss to Boston, means the Blues are within one point of second place in the Central and two points from the top spot.

Sadly, the injury to Steen doesn’t seem like it will have a happy outcome.  However, it was positive to see Schwartz continue his fantastic start, to have Berglund come up with a timely goal by bullying his way to the front and to have the Blues get a rare empty-netter.

Next: How the Blues Offense Can Be Even Better

The team will definitely miss the talent of Steen.  The guy is second on the team in goals and points for a reason.  However, for now there is comfort in a win and how well this team has done in these same situations all season long.  Next man up.