Penguins At Blues Final Score: Pens Win In Shootout 3-2

If there’s a standout goaltender in the NHL, it’s Marc-Andre Fleury. He proved why he’s one of the best in the league tonight with several amazing saves on the Blues in the final period and overtime to help the Pens to a 3-2 shootout victory. With a different goaltender in net, the score is lopsided in St. Louis’ favor.

The standout forward in the game had to be Patrik Berglund. His second period goal pulled the Blues within one, and then he got the rare opportunity to go for a shorthanded penalty shot goal. Berg’s not the best in shootouts (he was stoned tonight) but he managed to get past MAF to get the Blues at least the one point.

The third period was marred by this hit on Barret Jackman by Matt Cooke. Cooke has cleaned up his act considerably, and this was a bit of an odd hit, with Jackman turning at the last moment. It’s even more awkward by the check that turns into the shove from Cooke. It’s amazing, though, that Jackman was back out on the ice shortly later, apparently no worse the wear.

The Blues’ lone shootout goal scorer was T.J. Oshie, with Evgeny Malkin and Chris Kunitz scoring for the Penguins. The game does continue the Blues’ point streak at home, and sends them into the very long All-Star break with a way to forget the embarrassing loss to the Red Wings on Monday night. This was a much smarter, better played game by the Blues.

Elliott stopped 37 of 39 shots on goal, and Fleury stopped 32 of 34. The team should enjoy the time off, rest, re-charge, and take advantage of the fact that they’re entering the break in a playoff spot for the first time since before the lockout.

Penguins At Blues: Pens Up 2-1 After Two

The Blues’re keeping up the intensity this period and cutting back on the iffy penalties. Unfortunately, it’s hard to keep up with Evgeny Malkin and James Neal when they have a mind for the goal. Just 3:26 into the second period, Neal fired this blast past Brian Elliott, who I don’t think even saw the puck:

That was Neal’s 27th goal of the year. He’s on pace to score well over 40 this season. His previous career high in goals? Twenty-seven.

The period turned a bit more sour for the Blues with Steve Sullivan popping in a shot from mid-air past Elliott. It looked like it deflected off of Carlo Colaiacovo, and Sullivan, formerly of the Nashville Predators, exhibited perfect hand-eye coordination:

Thankfully all was not lost for the Blues, with Patrik Berglund getting a beautiful opportunity on a turn-over and, in what the rest of the team seems incapable of doing tonight, buried the puck on a nice backhand/forehand move past Marc-Andre Fleury. It was just Berglund’s 11th goal of the season.

One more period left to get at least a point out of the Penguins. Converting on some wide-open chances would be a nice start.

Penguins At Blues: 0-0 First Period After Evenly Matched Back And Forth

The Blues and Penguins, two teams in playoff position in their respective conferences, are both playing tonight like teams that want to win. That’s a great thing for the Blues, if they can keep it up past the first period. Last night against Detroit they played a solid and rough and tumble first period, and then the wheels came off the bus. So far tonight, they seem to be giving the Penguins as good as they’ve been getting.

Barret Jackman has been absolute gold defending against Evgeny Malkin and Pascal Dupuis, being able to mix up Malkin’s lethal positioning quite a few times. Roman Polak? Well, let’s just say he introduced himself to Richard Park:

Ow.

Silly penalties — or near penalties — seem to have continued from last game into this one. Vladimir Sobotka got a two minute roughing call for a quick punch in the face to Steve Sullivan, and Carlo Colaiacovo keeps feeding his fetish of clinging on people after hits that he dislikes. Tonight luckily he wasn’t called; a penalty against Pittsburgh like the one he took against the Red Wings at the end of the third period last night would be ill-advised.

The Blues are two for two on the penalty kill, and the shots are all knotted up at 12 a piece.

Penguins At Blues: Penguins, Evgeny Malkin, Hope To Continue Six Game Win Streak

The Blues haven't gotten any help from the schedule makers. They lost to the Red Wings last night, and tonight they have to deal with Malkin, Fleury, and the rest of the red-hot Pittsburgh Penguins.