Blues 1 - 3 Blackhawks
Final
  for this game

Blues aim to establish road game in Chicago

Feb 19, 2012 - 3:07 PM (Sports Network) - The St. Louis Blues have proven they can get it done at home. Picking up some wins on the road will show just how much of a contender they actually are.

The Blues begin a stretch of seven of eight away from St. Louis this afternoon as they try to deny the Chicago Blackhawks a third straight victory.

St. Louis hits the road following a 4-0 win over Minnesota on Saturday. Brian Elliott needed to make only 13 saves to record his sixth shutout of the season and 15th of his career.

The Blues improved to 26-3-4 at home on the season, including 18-0-3 in their last 21 to set a franchise points streak record at home. However, they are only 10-12-3 as the guest and begin a six-game swing following Wednesday's home game versus Boston.

"I think we need to just carry that on." said Elliott of Saturday's effort. "[Sunday's] a perfect chance to do that on the road in a great building."

Continued offensive support would also help. Barret Jackman halted a 150-game goal drought in the win over the Wild, while Ryan Reaves, Andy McDonald and Vladimir Sobotka all chipped in goals. Alex Pietrangelo and Kevin Shattenkirk had a pair of assists and David Perron logged a helper to extend his point streak to a career-high seven straight.

"It's nice any time you bounce one in, finally get a bounce your way," said Jackman. "It's not like anyone's expecting me to score, but the guys are all pretty excited for me."

The Blues have won six of their last seven thanks to Elliott's latest effort and he ranks in a tie for second in the league in shutouts. Teammate Jaroslav Halak, who was scratched on Saturday due to the flu, also has six on the year.

In fact, Halak's first blanking of 2011-12 came with a 29-save effort in a 3-0 win over the visiting Blackhawks back on Nov. 8. Chicago rebounded with a 5-2 win at St. Louis a month later and has won three of four and six the past nine encounters overall.

The Blues have lost four in a row and six of seven in Chicago.

The Blackhawks return home following a 2-6-1 season-long road trip. They dropped the first seven contests of that swing as part of a nine-game slide prior to a win over the Rangers on Thursday. Chicago then made it two in a row with yesterday's 6-1 dismantling of Columbus.

Corey Crawford stopped 33 shots and both Patrick Sharp and Jonathan Toews had a goal and an assist for the 'Hawks, who now sit sixth overall in the Western Conference.

"I thought we got better as the game went on there," said Chicago head coach Joel Quenneville. "We had a rough start to the game, a very ordinary start. But, overall our team game was very efficient."

Patrick Kane had a goal and an assist, while Marcus Kruger, Sami Lepisto and Viktor Stalberg added goals.






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