Blues rookie defenseman Colton Parayko (photo/NHL.com)

Blues rookie defenseman Colton Parayko (photo/NHL.com)

22-year old defenseman Colton Parayko, a third round draft pick by the St. Louis Blues in 2012, is turning out to be a real gem…and a real offensive machine.  His goal midway through the third period broke a 1-1 tie as the Blues beat the struggling Anaheim Ducks 2-1, Thursday night at Scottrade Center.

Parayko is on fire and maybe a little lucky.  His shot in the third period put the Blues on top on a wild goal

Parayko, who leads all NHL defensemen with four goals, got the puck at the blue line after Scott Gomez won a faceoff.  He shot to the left Ducks goalie Frederik Andersen  was wide, but the puck ricocheted off the boards and went in off the left skate of Anderson breaking a 1-1 tie with 9:29 remaining.

Parayko is just the third defenseman in Blues history to score two game-winning goals in his rookie season, joining Brian Benning in 1986-87 and Erik Johnson in 2007-08. He also registered ten shots on goal setting a Blues single-game rookie record.

How rare is that? The last NHL rookie to have 10 shots on goal in a game was Alex Ovechkin of the Washington Capitals on April 7, 2006

Parayko later left the game will an injury, but coach Ken Hitchcock said he’ll be fine.  Let’s hope so.

Watch Colton Parayko’s goal (VIDEO/NHL.com)