Blues Steal Another

Blues 2, Blue Jackets 1

Less than 24 hours after St. Louis ended the Blue Jackets’ four-game winning streak, the Blues continued their dominance against Columbus with a 2-1 victory.

In another physical affair, the teams traded hits and unkind words from the opening draw. The rumbling of the boards provided a soundtrack for 60 minutes of Central Division action.

The Blue Jackets finished the game with 36 hits, a statistic undoubtedly enhanced by the return of Jared Boll to the lineup.

Columbus’ play coaxed its rivals into a few more trips to the sin bin, but with the seventh-best penalty kill in the NHL, St. Louis was not troubled by the increase of penalty minutes. The Blue Jackets were unable to convert on eight power plays.

Jaroslav Halak, perhaps Blues’ best penalty killer, turned aside 33 of 34 shots between the pipes. Playing in front of him, St. Louis’ skaters blocked 22 shots.

With 2:32 remaining in regulation, Halak made his best save of the night when he reached back and snatched the puck off the goal line before Jack Johnson could dive in and tie the game. 

The late-game stop saved the Blues from heading to overtime, a possibility that seemed probable with the way the Blue Jackets swarmed in the final minutes.

Despite the pressure late in the game, David Perron’s goal at 3:46 of the third period stood as the game-winner. Perron, who also scored on Saturday night, beat Curtis Sanford with an ordinary wrist shot from the right faceoff circle.

Columbus’ lone goal came from Mark Letestu at 11:20 of the second period. The tally marked Letestu’s fifth point in four games.

Looking ahead, the Blue Jackets travel to Edmonton where they will face the Oilers on Wednesday night.