(Sports Network) - The St. Louis Blues will try to win back-to-back games for
the first time this month as they continue their road trip with a stop in
Calgary to battle the Flames.
The Blues won six of seven in January to begin the season, but opened the
current month with an 0-4-1 skid. They were held to a single goal in three of
those losses, but bounced back on Wednesday with a big 4-3 overtime victory in
Detroit.
St. Louis fell behind by two goals in the first period, but got a short-handed
tally from Patrik Berglund in the frame before Vladimir Tarasenko and Chris
Stewart lit the lamp in the second.
Alexander Steen then scored 52 seconds into overtime, putting home a rebound
from Barret Jackman's hard shot from the left side on the Red Wings' Jimmy
Howard. Jackman said he was looking to set up a teammate with his blast.
"I was just trying to get a rebound," Jackman said. "Any shot on net is a
potential goal. I was trying to pick top corner, put it in the middle of his
chest and Steen did a great job of coming over the top and driving the net. We
got a bounce and luckily we got it in."
Steen's goal gave Jake Allen a victory in his first NHL start. With Jaroslav
Halak having aggravated a groin injury on Monday that has him day-to-day and
Brian Elliott struggling, the 22-year-old Allen made 15 saves and is expected
to start this game.
Halak has not played since Feb. 1, while Elliott has gone just 3-5-1 with a
3.57 goals against average and .849 save percentage in nine games (7 starts)
this season.
St. Louis moved to 4-2-0 on the road this season and Friday marks the second
stop on a three-game swing.
The Flames are also looking to start a winning streak after halting a two-game
slide with Wednesday's 7-4 win over the Dallas Stars. Calgary scored four
times in the first period and Mike Cammalleri returned from a three-game
absence stemming from a hip injury to net his fifth career hat trick.
Cammalleri's third goal, an empty-netter, was the 200th tally of his career
and he also finished with an assist, while Roman Cervenka had a goal and a
helper. Jay Bouwmeester, Curtis Glencross and Jiri Hudler all added goals as
well.
"We wanted a good first period. We wanted to get the lead, to get back in the
zone feeling good about our game, and that was the case," said Calgary head
coach Bob Hartley. "We were skating well, we executed well 5-on-5, we forced
the Stars into a couple of infractions and we took advantage."
Calgary's season-high goal output allowed Leland Irving to get the win in net
despite giving up four goals on 34 shots as the Flames moved to 3-1-2 in their
past six games.
Center Paul Byron skated in his first game of the season with the Flames, but
suffered a fractured left hand in his season debut and was placed on injured
reserve. Forward Roman Horak was recalled from the minors on Thursday to
replace him in the lineup.
The Blues won three of four versus the Flames last season and their victory in
Calgary on Feb. 27 of last year snapped a three-game series road losing
streak.
The Sports Network