Matt D'Agostini saw a play developing in overtime and wanted to make sure he was in a good spot to make a difference.
He did.
D'Agostini scored at 3:58 of OT to give the Blues a 3-2 comeback victory over the Carolina Hurricanes on Friday night.
In overtime after the Blues killed a penalty, Vladimir Sobotka won a faceoff, got the puck back from Alex Pietrangelo and fed D'Agostini in the slot for a redirection past goalie Cam Ward to help the Blues snap a two-game losing streak.
''I just sat in front of the net, (Pietrangelo) made a good play at the blue line to keep it down low,'' D'Agostini said about his third goal of the season. ''I think one of their forwards jumped on the play thinking they can get a rush. (Sobotka) just made a great pass right on my stick and I just steered it in.''
Jason Arnott and David Backes scored in the second period to help the Blues overcome a 2-0 deficit, while Brian Elliott made 27 saves.
Elliott started in favor of a struggling Jaroslav Halak and came up with key saves, particularly in overtime with Blues defenseman Barret Jackman off for hooking. Elliott made an incredible reflex stop of a puck that caromed off Pietrangelo's chest and was headed for the net.
''I don't know if it was going over the top of the net or what,'' said Elliott, who has won both starts this season. ''I just kind of reacted when I saw it go off Petro's chest there. Luckily it goes in the glove instead of in the net.''
Brandon Sutter had a goal and an assist for Carolina, Jay Harrison also scored, and Ward stopped 40 shots as Carolina saw its three-game winning streak snapped. However, they have points in four straight (3-0-1).
''It's tough,'' Carolina center Jeff Skinner said. ''They played a good game. You want to stick with it. I thought we played a gritty game. We got away from it for their two goals.''
St. Louis rallied to tie it at 2-2 in the second period.
Arnott made it 2-1 at 5:18 with his third goal of the season, following up Jamie Langenbrunner's shot and beating Ward to the near side.
Backes tied it with 3:51 left after picking off a clearing pass. Backes' initial big blast was blocked by Carolina defenseman Tim Gleason, but Backes put his own rebound past Ward.
''We had a lot of great games from a lot of guys that didn't get on the scoresheet tonight,'' Backes said. ''Those are the guys that win the games.''
Harrison opened the scoring at 6:52 of the first on a shot from the right point that beat Elliott high on the short side.
Alex Steen had a chance to tie it with 2:29 left in the first, but couldn't snap a shot into the open side. Gleason slid across to get his stick on it.
Sutter picked up his second point of the game with a breakaway goal at 1:33 of the second. After poking the puck away from Patrik Berglund, Sutter streaked in and beat Elliott with a quick snap shot to the short side but the Hurricanes couldn't build off the momentum. They were outshot 43-29 for the game.
''It wasn't our best, but we'll take the point and go,'' Hurricanes coach Paul Maurice said. ''We were only 37 percent in the faceoff circle. You're going to give up shots.''
NOTES: Arnott's goal ended the Blues' scoring drought at 95:40. ... Brothers Chris Stewart (St. Louis) and Anthony Stewart (Carolina) faced each other for the first time in the NHL. Anthony is 26 years old, while Chris is 23. ... Maurice is one of three active coaches with 900-plus games with one franchise. The game was No. 902 for Maurice. Buffalo's Lindy Ruff (1,071) and Nashville's Barry Trotz (989) are the others. ... Blues D Carlo Colaiacovo (concussion) returned to the lineup after missing five games. LW Andy McDonald (concussion) missed his fourth game.
