Blues 4 - 1 Avalanche
Final
  for this game

Steen hits 20-goal mark as Blues sidestep Avalanche

Nov 28, 2013 - 5:50 AM Denver, CO (SportsNetwork.com) - Alexander Steen tied for the NHL lead in goals by potting his 20th, and the St. Louis Blues ended a long drought in the Mile High City with a 4-1 victory over the Colorado Avalanche.

David Backes had a goal and an assist for the Blues, who extended their winning streak to a season-high five games with their first triumph at Pepsi Center since April 12, 2009. They had lost eight straight in Denver.

Jaroslav Halak made 25 saves to earn the win.

The Avalanche, who had won three games in a row, were seeking payback against St. Louis. The Blues thumped Colorado 7-3 on Nov. 14 and dominated their Central Division foe again on Wednesday.

Semyon Varlamov stopped 31 shots in defeat.

As they did two weeks ago, the Blues got an early lead.

T.J. Oshie carried the puck down the left side and backhanded the puck to the slot for Backes, who tipped the pass home 2:46 into the game.

"To tell you the truth, I didn't see the goalie. I saw the pass coming across and had defenders on me and just had my stick out there and (Oshie) made a great play," Backes said.

Backes then set up Steen for a power-play goal at the 6:10 mark of the first period. Steen matched Washington star Alex Ovechkin for the most tallies in the league.

Tough guy Patrick Bordeleau put Colorado on the board 2:14 later, and the Avalanche had a chance to tie the game on a late power play. However, Jaden Schwartz scored a shorthanded goal to make it 3-1 with 1:48 remaining in the opening frame.

"That third (goal) was a tough break and it deflated us," said Colorado captain Gabriel Landeskog. "After the first, we were just flat."

The Avalanche mustered only six second-period shots and prime scoring opportunities remained scarce in the third period.

Chris Stewart scored an empty-net goal with 1:44 left.

Game Notes

Colorado forward Matt Duchene returned to the lineup after missing three games with an oblique injury ... Avalanche forward Paul Stastny was scratched because of back spasms.






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