Hurricanes 2 - 1 Blues
Final - 2OT
  for this game

Blues seek third straight victory versus Hurricanes

Dec 11, 2010 - 3:52 PM (Sports Network) - The Blues played excellent special teams hockey last time out and they aim for a third straight victory this evening when they host the Carolina Hurricanes at Scottrade Center.

The Blues went into Thursday's meeting with the Blue Jackets scoreless on their last 22 power plays, but went 3-for-3 on the man advantage en route to a 4-1 victory. St. Louis also killed off all eight of Columbus' power plays to win for the second straight time since a five-game slide.

"I think our guys did a great job, especially on the [penalty kill]," said Jaroslav Halak after making 27 saves. "We gave up eight [power-play chances] and killed them all, so it was a huge effort from our guys. Power play scores a couple of goals so it was good."

Alexander Steen and Jay McClement scored power-play goals in the first, Vladimir Sobotka added one in the second period and David Backes finished with a goal and two assists.

St. Louis also snapped a brief two-game slide at home and improved to 9-2-1 as the host this season.

The Blues recorded a 5-2 victory over the Hurricanes in the lone meeting between the clubs last year at Carolina. St. Louis had lost two straight and four of its last five in the series.

The 'Canes posted a 1-0 victory when the clubs last met in St. Louis on Oct. 30, 2008, snapping a four-game slide in the Gateway City.

Carolina is 0-1-1 on a five-game road trip and has lost seven of its last eight on the road. The Hurricanes were bested 2-1 in a shootout at Dallas last night for their fourth loss in five games overall.

Jiri Tlusty scored Carolina's lone goal and Cam Ward made 28 saves. He was excellent in overtime, but couldn't stop his club from dropping a fourth straight shootout.

"The thing about the shootout is it's a flip of a coin," Ward said. "It can go good, it can go bad. It's been a while since we won a shootout, but we got a point."

Carolina fell to 5-7-3 on the road overall.

Ward could get the call again tonight and is 3-1-0 with a 1.75 goals-against average in his career versus the Blues.

Halak is 1-2-0 with a 2.72 GAA in his career versus Carolina.






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