St. Louis Blues David Backes (42) puts the puck past Edmonton Oilers goaltender Ben Scrivens for a goal in the first period at the Scottrade Center in St. Louis on January 13, 2015. Photo by Bill Greenblatt/UPI
Vladimir Tarasenko and David Backes scored first-period goals, with Jori Lehtera assisting on each, and the Blues defeated the Edmonton Oilers 4-2 at Scottrade Center on Tuesday. The streaky Blues (27-13-3) won their fifth straight, outscoring teams 28-10 during this run. It’s the third time this season the Blues have had a winning streak of at least five games.
Tarasenko and Backes each added an assist to go with their goals, and Jaden Schwartz and Alexander Steen scored. Jake Allen made 13 saves for the Blues, who allowed a season-low 15 shots, who have now lost 13 straight on the road. The Blues scored twice in the first period on back-to-back shots. Tarasenko’s Blues-leading 24th goal, came on a wrist shot from the left circle trickled past Scrivens at 13:49. Backes made it 2-0 on a redirection of Lehtera’s pass at 16:41.
Schwartz made it 3-0 with a redirection 5:30 into the second period. Steen’s 400th NHL point gave the Blues a 4-1 lead. Backes won a faceoff, and Steen’s slap shot beat Scrivens high stick side with 3:34 remaining. Steen extended his point streak to seven games with five goals and eight assists.
The Blues host the Detroit Red Wings on Thursday and the Toronto Maple Leafs on Saturday.