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Blues try to extend recent dominance of Rangers

Jan 8, 2011 - 3:55 PM (Sports Network) - Aiming to avoid a third straight loss overall, the hosting Blues seek their fifth straight victory over the New York Rangers, who haven't beaten St. Louis in regulation in nearly 11 years but will try to do so this evening at Scottrade Center.

The Blues had a five-game winning streak end with last Sunday's setback to the Stars that completed a five-game homestand. St. Louis then traveled to Toronto and rallied from three goals down in the third period before losing, 6-5, in a shootout.

Brad Winchester, Eric Brewer and Matt D'Agostini scored in succession during the third period, with D'Agostini's game-tying goal coming with 6:39 left in regulation.

Jaroslav Halak started between the pipes, but was pulled after he yielded four goals on 19 shots. Ty Conklin made 11 saves in relief but suffered the loss, which now has the Blues 11 points behind the first-place Red Wings in the Central Division.

Halak is 5-3-0 with a 2.99 goals-against average versus the Rangers in his career, but it was Conklin who got the victory with 27 saves when the Blues posted a 2-0 victory in New York on Nov. 7. That victory gave St. Louis an 8-0-2 record with a tie in 11 games versus the Blueshirts since their last regulation loss to the club on Jan. 22, 2000 in St. Louis.

Alex Steen scored both goals in the win over the Rangers for the Blues and also tallied for a third straight game versus the Maple Leafs. The center has been on tear over his last 17 games, posting 10 goals and seven assists over that span.

New York has lost two straight in St. Louis and has just one victory in its last six trips there. Martin Biron got the start in the earlier loss, making 20 saves.

Neither Ranger goaltender has ever beaten the Blues. Biron is 0-7-2 with a 2.52 GAA versus them, while Henrik Lundqvist has dropped his two starts with a 3.06 GAA.

Lundqvist came up with 28 saves and stopped all three skaters he faced in a shootout as New York recorded a 3-2 victory in Dallas for its league-leading 14th road win of the season.

Rookie Mats Zuccarello had the lone shootout goal just two days after netting his first NHL goal, a game-winner in overtime against Carolina. Artem Anisimov had tied the game with a power-play goal at the 8:04 mark of the third period.

"It's a huge road win for us," said Zuccarello. "We need all the points we can get and to take two here tonight is big."

With its fourth victory in six games, New York pulled within five points of first-place Pittsburgh in the Atlantic Division.

New York played without defenseman Michal Rozsival, who was out with bruised ribs.