Tampa Bay Lightning At St. Louis Blues Final Score: Brian Elliott Shuts Out The Lightning 3-0

You can solve a puzzle one of two ways: you can take your time, try to figure it out, and quietly solve it. Or you can do what the Blues did tonight and break the puzzle wide open. The 1-3-1 trap? Not a problem if, like Hitchcock said, you never allow it to get set up. If you check and neutralize their best players, shots don’t materialize, either.

T.J. Oshie scored the third period’s only goal into a wide open net. Mathieu Garon sloppily played the puck behind his own net while David Backes was charging directly at him. Backes stripped him of the puck, passed to Oshie, and that was all she wrote. That was Garon’s one mistake of the evening; aside from that flub, he was excellent. The Lightning just couldn’t withstand the Blues’ pressure.

Barret Jackman saved Elliott’s shut-out by taking a penalty for closing his hand on the puck in the dying minute of the game, but it was worth it. Chants of “ELL-IO-TT” filled Scottrade as the goaltender’s save percentage inched high and his GAA slid just a little bit more. He’s fifth in the league in SV% and 4th in GAA, but there’s a chance that could change. Does this do anything to take care of the “who’s the starter?” speculation? Probably not, but regardless of who winds up on top, it shouldn’t take away from the outstanding season that Elliott has had thus far.

The Blues next take to the ice on Tuesday night, as the homestand continues with the Detroit Red Wings, who sit two points ahead of the Blues in the standings.

Tampa Bay Lightning At St. Louis Blues Score: Blues Manhandle Bolts, Lead 2-0

The Blues absolutely ran over the Lightning in the second period, holding them to just two shots – and none in the last 14:04 of the period. Constant pressure by both the offense and defense, intelligent plays, smart passes, and neutralizing the Lightning’s big scorers are all helping the Blues make the Philadelphia Flyers’ technique look even more foolish than it was. You want to beat the Bolts? Dominate them.

The Blues have to give Mathieu Garon credit. He has been outstanding tonight and is the reason that this game isn’t 4-0. He has stopped 15 of 17 shots on goal, but that doesn’t tell the whole story of the constant pressure around the net, the shots off the pipes and crossbar, and the shots that went just wide on a perfect scoring chance.

Kevin Shattenkirk scored with just six seconds remaining in the second period to give the Blues their 2-0 lead. Alex Steen fed him an outstanding cross ice pass as they both plowed to the crease. Hopefully it just counts as an insurance goal as the Blues continue this strong play in the third period. Keep the Tampa Bay shots to a minimum, and the missed chances of the second period are just a thing of the past.

Tampa Bay Lightning At St. Louis Blues: Guy Boucher's System No Problem For Blues

Ken Hitchcock continues to improve the Blues’ special teams, and this period was a perfect example of that. With Vladimir Sobotka and Kevin Shattenkirk in the box, the Blues polished off a 4-on-3 against a very potent Tampa Bay offense. Tampa’s power play is ranked 13th in the league, but with the new and improved penalty kill, it was no problem for the Blues.

St. Louis had multiple close calls this period, starting off with an Alex Steen shot that rang off the crossbar and dropped for goaltender Mathieu Garon to cover. Matt D’Agostini also had a wide open net, but his shot was deflected off as he flew in to score. Luckily, the Blues’ new arrival from Columbus didn’t have that issue. Kris Russell fired off a slap shot that blew past Garon and the rest of the Tampa Bay team. Having that left handed offensive defenseman kind of helps out now, doesn’t it?

Tampa Bay Lightning At St. Louis Blues: Eric Brewer Treating Tonight Like Any Other Game

To be honest, Blues fans never really were fair to Eric Brewer. The defenseman, who was acquired from Edmonton in a trade that sent Chris Pronger north, Brewer was often the scapegoat for the team’s uninspired play. As the last remaining cog in that deal, Brewer was resented by many as a constant reminder that one of the best defensemen that the Blues had ever iced was skating elsewhere. It also didn’t help that he was often injured. In five and a half years with the Blues, Brewer played 82 games just once: in the team’s horribly forgettable 2006-2007 season. He was a plus player just once as well: he was +1 before he was traded to the Tampa Bay Lightning.

Perhaps the pressure and resentment from the fans because he wasn't Chris Pronger got to him. Maybe the sarcastic boos from the fans that rained down every time he was on the ice for an opposition goal was distracting. Brewer needed a fresh start, and he’s gotten one in Tampa Bay, where there is no resentment at all. Since being traded to the Bolts, Brewer has picked it up. He finished last season with them a +5, and though he’s -2 to start the season, he’s on their top defensive pairing. He signed a four year contract worth $15,400,000 with the Lightning this off-season, so he’s obviously happy with his new digs.

How has Brewer found success? Just by being himself. When asked by Tampa Bay Online how he felt about playing his old team tonight, Brewer had this to say:

“I’ve been traded enough, I’m happy to go back, we really enjoyed it there and they treated me very well,’’ he said.

“I have some really good friends there, and it will be good for that. … Hopefully I’ll get a chance to see some of the staff that took really good care of me, and a couple of the guys.’’

Brewer was occasionally poked at for his robotic, emotionless on-ice style. Maybe that’s just an extension of his interview skills. Who knows, but Blues fans wish him luck. Just not tonight.

Tampa Bay Lightning At St. Louis Blues: Ken Hitchcock Wants To Break Tampa's Trap

Former Blues captain Eric Brewer's made a home on his new sunny Florida blueline, while the Lightning have made a habit of frustrating other teams' offenses.