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Blues inch closer to playoff spot with win over Coyotes

Apr 19, 2013 - 5:17 AM St. Louis, MO (Sports Network) - Brian Elliott stopped all three shots he saw in the shootout in the St. Louis Blues' 2-1 win over the Phoenix Coyotes.

Andy McDonald, the lone scorer and the first shooter in the shootout, beat Chad Johnson with a forehand into the top left corner. Elliott made a glove save on Oliver Ekman-Larsson, the final shooter in the shootout, to seal the win.

"I'd rather win it in regulation," Elliott said. "Getting that first goal is huge in the shootout, it gives you a little breathing room."

Elliott stopped 33-of-34 shots for the Blues, who moved a point ahead of the Minnesota Wild for the sixth seed in the Western Conference. Minnesota lost to San Jose on Thursday.

Radim Vrbata scored on the power-play with 1:07 left in regulation to send the game into extra time for Phoenix, which is five points behind the Columbus Blue Jackets, who lost to Los Angeles on Thursday, for the eighth and final playoff spot in the West.

Johnson made 29 saves in the loss.

Perron deflected home David Backes' high point shot midway through the opening frame to get the Blues on the board, but with the goalie pulled and Phoenix on the power play in the latter stages of the third, Vrbata's backhander beat Elliott to tie it.

"It was a big scrum in the corner and the puck came out ... I was able to put it in," Vrbata said.

Game Notes

St. Louis' Alexander Steen, who had been 4-for-4 in shootout attempts this season coming in, was unable to score in the shootout for the first time this year ... Phoenix was 1-for-3 on the power play, while the Blues finished 0- for-2 on the man advantage.