After a pretty good first period by the New York Islanders, the game went downhill in the second period. The slope evened itself out in the third period, as the Blues didn’t add any more damage to the scoreboard. They won their 25th game on home ice, got to 20 games in a row at home gaining at least a point, and crept back up within three of the Detroit Red Wings for the division and conference leads.
The Blues were outshot 27-26, but Brian Elliott made the big saves and the Blues’ defense actually allowed him to see the shots on net, which is more than the Islanders did for beleaguered Al Montoya.
Current slump-ees Patrik Berglund and Chris Stewart showed that they’re not scoring for lack of effort tonight. Berglund had a terrific game tonight with a very obvious presence on the ice, though he dinged a post and had Montoya rob him toward the end of the game. Stewart nearly had a chance on a breakaway, but Montoya deflected the puck high and wide.
The Blues’ next chance to take out an opponent comes Saturday afternoon at 1:00 against the Minnesota Wild, and is promptly followed with an NBC national broadcast the next afternoon as part of Hockey Day In America. The Blues-Blackhawks tilt on Sunday starts extremely early at 11:30, so set those alarm clocks.