Jake Allen readies for a shot against Boston (photo/NHL.com)
Vladimir Tarasenko scored his 22nd goal to extend his point streak to seven games. He has six goals and five assists during the streak. Blues coach Ken Hitchcock went right back to Jake Allen after a shaky game in Philly. Allen made 32 saves to help the Blues beat the Boston Bruins 2-0 at TD Garden on Tuesday.
The Blues (21-11-4) have won four of their past five games.
St. Louis took a 1-0 lead on Tarasenko’s goal at 7:35 of the third period. Tarasenko got behind the Boston defense before he beat goalie Tuukka Rask with a wrist shot. Robby Fabbri made it 2-0 at 12:50 after he shot from the left faceoff dot and beat Rask high to the glove side.
It was a stark turnaround for a team that looked flat for most of the game on Monday in Philly.
“Quite frankly, this is the way we have to play every night,” Hitchcock said. “We’re not a team that can afford to be 85 percent. Some teams can get away with that. We’re 100 percent in to play the right way, and that’s a small margin. Especially with the teams that are coming up post-Christmas. We’re going to have to be 100 percent all the way in. And 100 percent means for 60 minutes; not 45, not 50. That’s what was impressive today, and disappointing yesterday.”