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Rangers escape St. Louis with win

Jan 9, 2011 - 5:19 AM St. Louis, MO (Sports Network) - Martin Biron turned aside 24 shots to help the New York Rangers take a 2-1 win over the St. Louis Blues at Scottrade Center.

Sean Avery and Derek Stepan each had a goal for the Rangers, who have won three straight. Brandon Dubinsky assisted on both goals.

"We took the wind out of their sails with the penalty kill tonight," said New York head coach John Tortorella. "We grinded out the win tonight. We were tired, we weren't spot on, but we grinded it out there."

New York, which went 0-for-5 on the power play, held St. Louis scoreless in six power-play opportunities.

Brad Winchester had the lone goal and Jaroslav Halak allowed two goals on 24 shots for the Blues, who have dropped their past three games.

"We weren't patient, we weren't poised, they kept putting pressure on us and we weren't able to get anything setup out there today," said St. Louis center Alex Steen.

After a scoreless first period, the Blues took the lead at the 2:13 mark of the second period when Eric Brewer threw a shot on net from the left point that Winchester redirected past Biron.

The Rangers, though, tied the game seven minutes later. On the transition, Dubinsky left a drop pass in the high slot for Mats Zuccarello, who fired it over to the right where Stepan blasted it past Halak.

Avery then made it a 2-1 game with 4:34 to play in the second when his wrister beat Halak for just his second goal of the season.

Biron stopped eight shots in the final frame and a late penalty to David Backes for cross-checking killed St. Louis' hope for a comeback.

Game Notes

The Rangers host the Canadiens on Tuesday...St. Louis hosts Phoenix on Monday...New York improved to an NHL-best 15-7-1 on the road this season...St. Louis had won four straight against New York.