Blues 2 - 1 Avalanche
Final
  for this game

Blues edge Avs in Denver

Mar 8, 2014 - 11:51 PM Denver, CO (SportsNetwork.com) - Ryan Miller remained undefeated with St. Louis, making 26 saves to backstop the Blues to a 2-1 win over Colorado in a Central Division showdown at Pepsi Center.

David Backes and Patrik Berglund each scored for the Blues, who improved to 4-0 with Miller between the pipes following the trade with Buffalo eight days ago.

"He's been solid back there doing everything that world-class goalies do," Backes said.

Division-leading St. Louis moved five points ahead of the Avalanche in the standings. Colorado is one point behind second-place Chicago.

Semyon Varlamov was sharp in defeat, stopping 23 shots, but Colorado had its winning streak snapped at four games.

The third game between the clubs this season was much more competitive after St. Louis outscored Colorado 11-4 while winning the first two meetings.

The Avalanche played nearly the entire game without offensive threat Paul Stastny. The forward left with a back injury and didn't return after one shift.

"We certainly had our chances to not only tie the game, but win it," said Colorado captain Gabriel Landeskog.

The Avalanche nearly climbed out of a two-goal hole.

P.A. Parenteau gave the club life with a goal at the 8:57 mark of the third period. Miller turned away Matt Duchene after he made strong move to the net, but Parenteau pounced on a rebound in the slot and fired it home.

Colorado continued to apply pressure and pulled Varlamov for an extra attacker. However, the Blues were able to hold on.

Backes opened the scoring off a pass from T.J. Oshie. From one knee, Oshie pushed the puck ahead to Backes at the right side of the net and he directed it in at 7:03 of the second period.

The Blues went up 2-0 on Berglund's turnaround wrister at 3:53 of the third.

Game Notes

Ken Hitchcock earned his 648th career win, tying him with Ron Wilson for seventh on the NHL's all-time list ... Saturday marked the 10th anniversary of then-Canucks forward Todd Bertuzzi's career-ending attack on Colorado forward Steve Moore in Vancouver ... The Blues have won four consecutive games against Colorado for the first time since beating the Quebec Nordiques 10 straight times from Jan. 1988-Jan. 1991 ... The Blues improved to 17-0-1 versus Central Division opponents this season ... Colorado rookie forward Nathan MacKinnon had his point streak end at 13 games, the longest by an 18-year-old in NHL history.






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