Many expected the Blues to look for some physical revenge against Brent Seabrook and the Chicago Blackhawks after a first round playoff loss last season. The Blues however wanted revenge on the scoreboard.
The Blues know that one regular season game isn't going to make up for a playoffs loss. Yet they wanted to show the Hawks and the fans that they aren't going to back down.
They didn't get off to the start they wanted, going down by one early in the game. Patrick Sharp scored on a 5-on-3 power play to give the Blackhawks a one goal lead.
The Blues somehow held it together, and eventually tied the game on a goal by Jaden Schwartz. The goal would be Schwartz's fifth goal of the season, leading the Blues in that category. The Blues would end the period tied 1-1.
Ryan Reaves put the Blues on the board after just by getting the puck over the line after shooting in a rebound kicked out by Antti Raanta after Steve Ott sprung Maxim Lapierre on a semi-breakaway. It took video review, but the puck just crossed the line and Reaves was awarded his first goal of the season.
That goal got the Blues jumping the rest of the period, and they capitalized on their energy. Alex Pietrangelo fired a shot on goal from the point, Raanta let another rebound bounce into the slot, and Dmitrij Jaskin pounced on a loose puck and rifled one past the Chicago netminder to give the Blues a 3-2 lead.
Jaskin, playing in his first game of the season after being recalled from the Chicago Wolves. Jaskin had a very strong game, scoring a goal on three shots and registering three hits. He was all over the ice and played a very strong game.
Jaskin's goal was the second of his career, the first came last season, ironically enough, against the Chicago Blackhawks.
Brian Elliott had a strong game tonight, stopping 22-of-24 shots, and earning a big win tonight. Elliott will improve to 2-2-1 after five games with a 1.78 goals against average and a .922 save percentage. Many have doubted Elliott as the starter, believing he doesn't have what it take to hold down a starting role with the Blues. He's in the process of proving his doubters wrong.
The Blues, who have been struggling lately, picked up a big win against their central division rival. They will look to start a winning streak against the Dallas Stars on Tuesday in Dallas.
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