Final
Blues hang on to slip past Phoenix
Dec 24, 2011 - 6:31 AM Glendale, AZ (Sports Network) - Jason Arnott's goal early in the third period proved to be the game-winner, as the Blues edged the Phoenix Coyotes, 3-2, for their sixth victory in eight contests.Matt D'Agostini and Alex Steen also scored for St. Louis, which bounced back from a 3-2 loss at Colorado on Wednesday. Brian Elliott made 24 saves.
"We have shown flashes of what it takes to win on the road, but we have a ways to go," Blues coach Ken Hitchcock said.
Keith Yandle and Shane Doan lit the lamp for the Coyotes, who won their previous two games. Jason LaBarbera turned aside 15 shots in defeat.
D'Agostini scored on a blast from the right circle with 1:35 left in the second to put St. Louis ahead, and Arnott added his seventh of the season 1:48 into the third by knocking the puck out of the air in the left circle and past LaBarbera.
Yandle's one-timer from the right circle had the Coyotes within one with 6:21 left, but David Schlemko took a crucial hooking penalty with under three minutes remaining. LaBarbera was pulled for an extra attacker in the final 40 seconds, but the hosts couldn't generate a decent opportunity for the equalizer.
The Coyotes had a golden opportunity for a goal in the final minute of the first period, but Daymond Langkow couldn't score despite a wide-open net. On a 2-on-1 break, he got a feed to the left side of the net, but banged the disc off the right post and it caromed across the crease.
"It was a tough game," LaBarbera said. "There wasn't a whole lot of room out there and they played a pretty tight-checking game. They got a couple of bounces."
Steen scored on a breakaway at 7:12 of the second before Doan tied the game 44 seconds later by putting in a rebound in front.
Game Notes
The Blues are 15-0-1 when leading after the second period...Former Coyotes forward Keith Tkchauk was inducted into the team's Ring of Honor before the game...Each team was 0-for-3 on the power play.
- ST. LOUIS: 3
PHOENIX: 2
Final
Dec 23 11:49 PM - Phoenix Goal - Keith Yandle (5), from Raffi Torres and Cal O'Reilly at 13:39.
Blues 3, Coyotes 2 3rd - 6:21Dec 23 11:36 PM - ST. LOUIS: 2
PHOENIX: 1
End of 2nd
Dec 23 10:52 PM - ST. LOUIS: 0
PHOENIX: 0
End of 1st
Dec 23 10:01 PM - ST. LOUIS: 0
PHOENIX: 0
1st Period - 19:52
Dec 23 9:29 PM