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Never, ever, count the Blues out.
The St. Louis Blues beat the Chicago Blackhawks tonight by a score of 4-3 thanks to a triple overtime goal by Alexander Steen.
The first period was hectic for both teams. Adam Cracknell opened the scoring for the Blues just 4:40 into the first period as he crashed hard to the net, and tapped a rebound after Chris Porter got the puck on net. The play was made by Alex Pietrangelo who was tripped up in the slot, and still managed to get the puck to Porter on his stomach. It was the first career playoff goal for Cracknell.
Johnny Oduya tied the game for the Hawks after he got the puck on the point, skated in, and fired it between the pads of Blues goalie Ryan Miller. Oduya was left all alone and had plenty of room to skate in to put a shot on goal. The puck tipped off the pad of Miller and into the net at the 11:14 mark.
The Hawks would take the lead thanks to a power play goal from Brent Seabrook. Brandon Saad dished the puck from behind the net to Seabrook, who put the puck off the stick of Roman Polak and behind Miller.
The Blues would answer back as the fast and furious first period moved on. This time it was Vladmir Tarasenko scoring for the Blues off a beautiful pass from Kevin Shattenkirk. Jaden Schwartz started the play by picking off a puck from a Hawks forward and moved it into the zone. Schwartz dished to Sobotka, who in turn gave it to Barret Jackman. Jackman kept it moving to Shattenkirk, who made the best pass of the sequence, as he found Tarasenko alone in the slot for the goal.
Tarasenko was playing his second NHL playoff game tonight, and was easily the most offensive Blues forward tonight. His first game came last year, playing only five minutes against the Los Angeles Kings. Tonight he looked like a season veteran.
The Hawks took the lead again before the first period ended off a breakaway goal from Patrick Kane. Kane slide behind the Blues defense, and took a Jonathan Toews pass to break in alone. He fired a shot five-hole past Miller and the Hawks looked to have the offense building at the end of the first period and Miller looked rattled.
The second period would prove to be a strong period for Miller, as he stopped all eight shots the Hawks put on goal. He was settling into the game and it gave the Blues confidence. The Blues could only muster three shots on goal in the second period and it looked like the Hawks could step on their throats going into the third.
Yet it was the Blues revving it up in the third period, putting 14 shots on goal to the Hawks six. Corey Crawford had played a strong game through the majority of the third period, robbing the Blues countless times. The Blues kept throwing everything on goal trying to get the game tying goal, and it would take most of the period to see it pay off. Jaden Schwartz cut off a pass from Johnny Oduya, and gave it Derek Roy, who was behind the net. Roy gave it back to Schwartz out front and Schwartz made no mistake, putting it between the pads of Crawford to tie the game with 1:45 left in the third.
Chicago had most of the pressure in the first overtime, and had a chance to win it when Vladimir Sobotka went to the box for delay of game. The Hawks had three shots on the power play, but Ryan Miller stood tall, keeping the Blues in it.
Vladimir Tarasenko had a glorious chance to end the game late in the first overtime, but the puck just skipped over his stick, as he would have a wide open net to shoot at.
Neither team could score in the first overtime, and it would prove to be much of the same in the second overtime. The Blues out shot the Hawks 12-7 in the period, but the Hawks had ample opportunity to win it. Max Lapierre, who played a season high 22:51, saved a goal as the Hawks had Miller beat, but Lapierre made a pad save to keep the game alive.
Pietrangelo had a huge chance to win it as well, but much like the Tarasenko chance, the puck just jumped over his blade as he would have a wide open net to shoot at. Crawford was strong throughout, as did Ryan Miller.
Miller had to face a late breakaway chance from Patrick Sharp but he stood strong in net, and made a great pad save to keep the game alive.
The Blues had to play the majority of their overtime periods without defensemen Jay Bouwmeester. Bouwmeester blocked a shot with six minutes left in the first overtime period and missed the entire second overtime with what looked like a injury to his foot.
After no scoring in the the second overtime, the teams headed off for the fifth intermission of the game. Bouwmeester stepped out and took a twirl around the ice after the second overtime ended and he would make a return to the game in the third overtime.
When the puck dropped in the third overtime, the Hawks got control of the puck and put it in the Blues zone. The Blues would take it away, and move it up the ice to Blues captain David Backes.
Backes dished the puck to Steen, who shot it wide of the net. Backes would pick it up, and pass it out front to Steve Ott, who held it for about half a second, before giving it to Steen again. Steen wouldn't miss the net this time, as he buried it behind Crawford to give the Blues a huge 4-3 win in triple overtime.
There are many positives to take out of this game for the Blues. First and foremost, getting the series lead early is huge for the Blues. The Blues came into the series with home ice advantage, but many view them as the underdog. They are playing the defending cup champs in the first round and the Hawks are a team that knows how to win.
Secondly, they know that the guys who are coming off injuries, can play. Tarasenko, who missed 15 games with a hand injury was one of the best, if not the best Blues forward tonight. David Backes, Branden Morrow, Vladimir Sobotka, and Alex Pietrangelo all had very strong games.
The fourth line was one of the most dangerous lines on the ice tonight. They scored the opening goal, and produced a lot of offensive chances. Cracknell scored on one of his three shots, Lapierre notched two shots, and Chris Porter had seven shots on goal. Both Porter and Tarasenko lead the Blues with seven shots on Crawford.
Ryan Miller, who had a very shaky first period, allowing three goals on seven shots, made 35 straight saves to end the game. After the first, Miller really dug deep and kept the Blues in the game. He made the timely saves to keep the Blues in the game, including a few 2-on-1 and breakaway chances.
Alex Pietrangelo played more than any other player on the ice, playing a career high 43:42, and playing more than seven minutes of shorthanded time.
The Blues and Blackhawks will play game two of the series on Saturday at the Scottrade Center at 2:00 p.m. The game is a nationally televised game and will air on NBC.
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