The Blues have jumped back into first place with a 4-3 victory over their division rival, the Nashville Predators.
T.J. Oshie returned to the line up for the Blues for the first time since suffering a concussion against the Dallas Stars on October 28th. Ryan Reaves also returned to the line up tonight after missing last game due to blocking a Barret Jackman shot in practice.
Oshie's return helped on the scoreboard, as he scored his first goal of the season just 3:25 into the first period. Oshie had struggled offensively before his concussion, but he looked a lot more like his normal self tonight.
Carl Gunnarsson scored a goal a little over halfway through the first, but at first, no one noticed. Toronto's War Room called and the horn blew when the play stopped. Gunnarsson's shot hit off the post, off the camera, and out.
Filip Forsberg continued his hot-streak after he beat Allen less than a minute later to make it 2-1. The period would end with the same score.
Shea Weber would tie it early in the second period off a beautiful play by Forsberg. Forsberg danced through the defense and Weber fired a bomb past the blocker of Allen.
6:46 into the period, Eric Nystrom laid a high hit on Vladimir Tarasenko. Kevin Shattenkirk stepped up and went after Nystrom. Ryan Ellis grabbed Shattenkirk and Tarasenko went after Ellis. Both Tarasenko and Ellis dropped the gloves, and for the second straight game, the officials failed to eject a player after a fight.
In the NHL rulebook, rule 46.13 states
A player who engages in a fight and whose jersey is not properly “tied-down… (jersey properly fastened to pants), and who loses his jersey (completely off his torso) in that altercation, shall receive a game misconduct penalty. If the player loses his jersey despite the tie down remaining intact and attached to the pants, the game misconduct is not applicable, however this must be reported to the League office so that the jersey and the tie down can be examined.
The jersey of Ryan Ellis was clearly not tied down and was completely up over the head of Ellis at the end of the fight. Granted this did not affect the game after the fight, it's a simple rule that was clearly missed.
Vladimir Tarasenko would finish off his first career Gordie Howe hat-trick as he scored a beautiful goal later in the period. He fired a shot through the legs of the Predators defensemen and off the glove of Pekka Rinne and in the net.
The last Blue to register a Gordie Howe hat-trick? Jaden Schwartz last season against the Florida Panthers, when he scored a goal, added two assists, and dropped gloves against Kris Versteeg.
The Blues looked like they would head to the locker room with a one goal lead, but with just 0.4 second remaining in the second, Roman Josi found a hole and fired the puck past a blocked Jake Allen.
The third period was evenly played by both teams, as the Blues out-shot the Predators 8-6 in the final frame.
James Neal came close to tying the game after a turnover by Patrik Berglund on his defensive blue-line. Neal beat a Jake Allen, who was without his goal stick, high blocker side. Neal failed to beat the cross-bar, however, and the period would continue with an even score.
Paul Stastny would eventually scored the game winner with just under six minutes remaining. Stastny won a draw to Alexander Steen, who dropped it back to Gunnarsson. Gunnarsson passed to Shattenkirk who put a shot on goal that Paul Stastny got the tip of his stick on to beat Rinne five-hole.
The Predators pushed hard late, and it was Jake Allen who kept the game tied. Allen stopped Neal late in the game after a beautiful set up to Neal in the slot. Allen pushed off and somehow got his pad down to make the save.
Carl Gunnarsson, Vladimir Tarasenko, and Jori Lehtera all three notched two points on the night while Allen stopped 22-of-25 shots to preserve the win.
The Blues blocked 21 shots on the night, compared to eight blocks by the Predators. Alex Pietrangelo blocked nine shots, leading the Blues in that category.
The Blues have now jumped past the Predators and back into first place in the central division. They will take on the Washington Capitals on Saturday at the Scottrade Center and look to add onto their new win streak.
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