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Blake's 2 goals lead Ducks over Blues

Mar 17, 2011 - 6:13 AM Anaheim, CA (Sports Network) - Jason Blake scored twice, including the go- ahead goal just 1:50 into the third period, as the Anaheim Ducks took a 2-1 win over the St. Louis Blues at Honda Center.

It was a big two points for the Ducks, moving them into the eighth spot in the Western Conference. They are tied with Calgary for points with 81, but Anaheim has two more wins and has played two fewer games.

Ray Emery, making his first start of the season, stopped 30 shots for the Ducks, who have won three of four.

"I have a checklist that I run through," Emery said. "I have been for awhile at this level. I know how to prepare. I definitely had butterflies going and was excited to get in there. I don't control when I play, who I play against or what kind of game. When you get the opportunity, you want to make the most of it."

Nathan Oystrick scored the lone goal for the Blues, who have dropped their past two games. Jaroslav Halak made 22 stops in the loss.

St. Louis sits 10 points out of the final playoff spot with 12 to play.

The deciding goal came off a drop pass from Saku Koivu that saw Lubomir Visnovsky slap it on net and Blake redirect it for his 14th goal of the season.

Emery made 10 stops in the final frame to preserve the win.

Oystrick's goal came halfway through the second period on the power play when his initial shot at the right circle was stopped, but he grabbed his own rebound and snapped it in.

However, Anaheim scored 1 1/2 minutes later as Blake's backhand from the right side on the rush hit off a defender and went in.

"We got on the board early in the game and they answered right back," Blues head coach Davis Payne said. "I think it was a situation where we needed to make it a territorial game, whether it was the offensive zone or clean plays through the neutral zone. I thought we did that. I thought we had some zone time, but their offensive zone play got them a win."

Game Notes

Each team won twice in the series this season...St Louis plays at Los Angeles on Thursday...The Ducks play at Los Angeles on Saturday...St. Louis went 1- for-2 on the power play while Anaheim was 0-for-3.