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Steen Scores Two In Win Over Islanders |
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Alexander Steen scored twice, Barret Jackman registered two assists in tonight's 6-3 win over the New York Islanders.
It was a fight, but the Blues have found away to attack Jaroslav Halak, and for the second straight game, have found a way to put the puck behind him. Steen (2), Barret Jackman, T.J. Oshie, Paul Stastny, and Jaden Schwartz all scored for the Blues while John Tavares, Mikhail Grabovski, and Kyle Okposo scored for the Islanders.
Overall, the Blues played two very solid periods, while the second period continues to be the period of defensive breakdowns.
Steen and Jackman both scored in the first period, putting the Blues up 2-0. Tavares and Grabovski both scored in the second period.
The Islanders out-shot the Blues 22-17 in the first two periods, and 14-8 in the second period alone. The second period has given the Blues fits over the last month. It's been the period of defensive breakdowns and that's when the opposition has really been capitalizing offensively.
The Blues battled back, out shooting the Islanders 16-6 and out scored them 4-1. They have scored 11 goals on Halak in the last two games. Schwartz scored an empty net goal so that isn't counted as a goal against the former Blues goaltender.
There were a few players tonight who really stood out in a big way. Alexander Steen and Barret Jackman both had really solid games. On Steen's second goal, Jackman had his stick lifted just prior to the Steen shot. So Jackman could have had the two goals instead of Steen, but both were really firing the puck tonight. Steen had six shots on goal, while Jackman had three shots.
Petteri Lindbohm had a very solid game for the Blues as well. Playing just under 15 minutes, Lindbohm was a rock in the defensive zone, including a great play, blocking a cross crease pass that would have given the Islanders an empty net. Lindbohm finished with a pretty empty stat line, no shots, was even in the plus/minus department, and only registered one blocked shot. He probably wasn't noticed much by the casual viewer, but that's how you know he had a solid game. He didn't make very many mistakes, he quick decisions in the defensive zone which helped the puck get up the ice quickly and you didn't see the Lindbohm-Jackman pairing hemmed in the defensive zone much. Just a solid game by the rookie defender.
Patrik Berglund also had a solid game tonight. Registering an assist on the Oshie goal with a great pass from behind the net. He directed two shots on goal, but was solid all night long. That is the type of game you expect from Berglund. Nothing flashy or fancy, just solid, smart hockey.
Jake Allen didn't have the best game, but after being yanked in his last game, against these very same Islanders, he played a solid game.
The Blues are back at it on Saturday when they take on the Colorado Avalanche at 9:00 P.M. central time.
St Louis Blues Blogger • 
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