If you've been hiding under a rock for the last week and a half, you've really missed the coming out party of Vladimir Tarasenko. He scored five goals last week, which he was named player of the week. He is already on his way to earning that honor again, with another goal tonight, before scoring the winner in the shootout.
Brian Elliott back-stopped the Blues to a 4-3 victory in the shootout tonight, stopping 36-of-39 shots on goal, and stopping 2-of-3 shooters in the shootout. He had a lot of help in the game though. During the third period, Elliott was sprawled out of the crease, and all five players were in the crease, blocking shots to deny the Rangers from scoring. This included Carl Gunnarsson and Jaden Schwartz sprawled out with the pads stacked and Kevin Shattenkirk standing on the goal line, playing goalie.
Chris Krieder put the Rangers on the board in the first period, tipping in a Matt Hunwick point shot that beat Elliott low glove side. The first period was all New York, as they out-shot the Blues 15-4 in the first 20 minutes. Brian Elliott was the only reason the game wasn't out of reach after the first frame.
The second period was a complete turn around from the first, as the Blues put 17 shots on goal compared to the eight for the Rangers. It was the second period in which the play of the game was made.
That brings us back to the NHL's first star of the week, Vladimir Tarasenko. Tarasenko, when he is on his game, can absolutely dominant the game. Needless to say, he's on his game. Tarasenko got the puck at center ice, and then it was time to dangle. He beat Mike Kostka, Rick Nash, Dylan McIlrath, before pulling the "Peter Forsberg deke" to beat Cam Talbot for the goal. If you have twitter, you probably heard about it.
If Vladimir Tarasenko hadn't arrived at stardom before, he just did, on Broadway no less! #holyjumpin #NHL
— Chris Cuthbert (@CCtsn) November 4, 2014Holy jumping' is right, Panger. What a spectacular goal by Tarasenko. Wow!
— Mark Spector (@SportsnetSpec) November 4, 2014Lastly, Corey Hirsch, former Blues goalie coach, and the goaltender who was embarrassed by Forsberg in the 1994 Olympic's tweeted out;
One forsberg joke about the Tarasenko goal and I'm outta here.
— Corey Hirsch (@CoreyHirsch) November 4, 2014The third period was back and forth. Patrik Berglund scores his first goal of the season, as a Barret Jackman point shot deflected off his skate while he was down on the ice. The most Patrik Berglund goal of all time.
Then it was the Marty St. Louis show. His first goal was was a result of a beautiful pass by Carl Hagelin. Hagelin dished the puck behind the net and St. Louis tucked the puck in behind Brian Elliott.
St. Louis' second goal of the game came due to a beautiful pass by Rick Nash. All St. Louis had to do was go to the net with his stick down, and he did just that. Just like that, it was 3-2.
Jay Bouwmeester and Alex Pietrangelo were the victims on defense on both of St. Louis goals. Bouwmeester would make up for it though, as he scored the game tying goal on a beautiful point shot.
Jori Lehtera dropped a pass to Bouwmeester who fired a shot high blocker and he looked like a 40 goal scorer with his release and accuracy. The 'bar down' shot was a beauty, and just like that, it was a tie game.
The game would head to overtime, but not before Kevin Shattenkirk took a ill advised penalty with just 37 seconds left in the third period.
The Rangers got quite a few chances on the power play, but the best chance of overtime came from Rick Nash, who rifled a shot off the post and right back into Elliott. From the original angle, it looked like the puck was in the net, but after review, the puck clearly never cross the line.
The game would eventually go to the shootout in which Lee Stempniak and Alexander Steen both scored in the second round. The irony of the Toronto Maple Leafs. Both players were traded for one another on November 8th, 2008.
Rick Nash was stopped by Elliott, and then it was Vladimir Tarasenko.
Of course the game would come down to Tarasenko, and yet again, he didn't disappoint. A quick backhand-forehand deke, and he beat Cam Talbot blocker side to seal a win for the Blues.
The Blues are back at it again tomorrow against the New Jersey Devils, in Newark, New Jersey.
As always, you can email me at randallritchey@gmail.com or follow me on twitter @randallritchey,.