The St. Louis Blues battled the Buffalo Sabres tonight, earning a big two points with a 2-1 victory. With the win, they set a new franchise record with their 52nd win of the season, the most ever in a single season in franchise history.
Brian Elliott stopped 24-of-25 shots in the win, having his shutout bid taken away in the last minute of the game. Maxim Lapierre and Brendan Morrow provided the scoring for the Blues, and Cody Hodgson scored for the Sabres.
The secondary scoring finally came into play tonight, as the top guys for the Blues were shutout by Sabres goalie Nathan Lieuwen.
The offensive opportunities were spread out through the lineup tonight, as everyone but Ryan Reaves and Jaden Schwartz were the only two Blues who didn't register a shot on goal tonight. Morrow, David Backes, and Patrik Berglund lead the Blues with three shots a piece. Meanwhile, Tyler Ennis lead the Sabres with seven shots on goal.
The Blues really played down to the Sabres level the majority of the game, and it allowed the Sabres to stay in the game.
The Sabres lost Marcus Foligno early in the game, as he went down awkwardly on his knee and was in some serious pain. It certainly didn't look good for him as his knee was twisted under his body.
Max Lapierre opened the scoring early in the second period off a beautiful pass by Ryan Reaves. Lapierre won the face-off, Reaves took the puck around the net, and found Lapierre in the slot. A quick shot between the legs of Lieuwen, and the Blues had a 1-0 lead.
Brendan Morrow jumped on a loose puck late in the third period, and put the Blues ahead 2-0. Jaden Schwartz set the play up after stealing the puck from Lieuwen behind the net, and dished the puck out front to Vladimir Sobotka. Sobotka's first shot was originally stopped, but the rebound was there for Morrow, who put the puck past the sprawling Sabres netminder.
This goal was crucial, as the Sabres went on a late power play after Backes went to the box for interference. The Sabres pulled Lieuwen for the extra attacker and it was Cody Hodgson, who was all alone to the right of Brian Elliott, who took a quick pass and made it a one-goal game.
Elliott would shut it down after the Hodgson goal and earned the two points for the Blues.
The Blues are off tomorrow before a pair of back-to-back games this weekend against the Colorado Avalanche and the Chicago Blackhawks. The Blues will look to have Alexander Steen (upper-body) and Barret Jackman (lower-body) back in the line up. Neither player played in tonight's win.
The Blues have an chance to add onto their franchise record, 52 wins, with six games remaining.
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