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Elliott backstops Blues over Flames

Nov 26, 2011 - 4:45 AM St. Louis, MO (Sports Network) - Brian Elliott made 24 saves to earn his third shutout of the season and 12th of his career, backstopping the St. Louis Blues to a 2-0 win over the Calgary Flames on Friday.

David Backes had a goal and an assist and Alex Pietrangelo also scored in the win. Alex Steen and Kevin Shattenkirk chipped in with assists for the Blues, who have won two straight and five of their last seven games.

"We got a great goaltending display and our fourth line was terrific," Blues head coach Ken Hitchcock said.

Elliott upped his save percentage to .951 and lowered his goals-against average to 1.34, both leading the NHL.

Miikka Kiprusoff stopped 22-of-24 shots for the Flames, losers of three consecutive games.

The Blues struck first while shorthanded at 10:39 of the first period.

Shattenkirk swept the puck out into the neutral zone and Backes beat T.J. Brodie to the puck, raced down the left wing and buried it high to the glove side of Kiprusoff for the 1-0 lead.

"Elliott has been fantastic battling and making saves," Backes said. "When you have that behind you it gives you the confidence to make a few plays in front of him."

After a scoreless second period, the Blues increased their lead to 2-0 at 13:17 of the third when Steen picked up a loose puck behind the net and fed Pietrangelo for a one-timer he buried as Kiprusoff was getting knocked down.

Calgary pulled Kiprusoff with just over a minute to go in regulation in hopes of at least breaking the shutout, but Elliott made some spectacular saves in the final minute of play to keep the Flames off the board.

"He just kept the puck out," Flames captain Jarome Iginla said of Elliott's performance. "I know he's been playing well and he continued it against us. We'd always like a few more chances, but the ones we did have, he made some very good saves."

Game Notes

St. Louis has scored 24 goals in the third period this season, good for sixth- most in the NHL...Blues forward Vladimir Sobotka skated off the ice under his own power after being struck in the face by a puck in the third period...Prior to the game, the Flames claimed forward Blake Comeau off waivers from the New York Islanders...St. Louis couldn't capitalize on its lone power play chance, while Calgary went 0-for-4 with the man advantage.