Jets show Blues what happens when you let hungry teams stick around
The Blues' good fortune against Winnipeg finally ran out after they missed multiple chances to put the Jets away Thursday night.
St. Louis saw a seven-game win streak against its division rivals come to an end in a 2-1 shootout loss. After extending 1-0 leads in the third period of two consecutive wins, the Blues failed to hold off a relentless Jets offense.
"It's hard-hitting and fast tempo," captain David Backes told FOX Sports Midwest analyst Darren Pang on the Blues Live postgame show. "One-goal lead and halfway through the third we need to close that game out, and instead they find one and you get to the shootout, anything can happen."
Perhaps the best opportunities to add an insurance goal came in the second period, and Jaden Schwartz even got a point-blank opportunity just 15 seconds after Drew Stafford ended goaltender Brian Elliott's shutout streak of nearly 120 minutes. But even before that, Winnipeg provided what Backes said should have been a wakeup call with three shots off the post.
It's the third time in the past eight games St. Louis lost after heading into the third period either leading or tied, and the Blues also lost a 4-1 third-period lead before beating the Jets 5-4 during that stretch. Barret Jackman won that game on a fluke goal from near the red line, and St. Louis also beat Winnipeg 2-1 in a shootout earlier this season.
"We got a lot of shots off the rush, but not a ton of sustained O-zone and they ended up pretty close in shots," Backes said. "But we had a few chances there, too, that (were on) backdoors and power plays or a few two-on-ones. (If) we can bury one of those it's 2-0, we feel a little bit better about this game."
Instead, the Blues got a harsh reminder of what happens when hungry teams are allowed to hang around.
HAT TRICK
• Backes stays hot in March. The Blues' captain picked the perfect time to find his scoring touch again.
Watch the Blues Live pregame and postgame shows before and after every St. Louis Blues game on FOX Sports Midwest.
Backes took a great pass across the ice from Paul Stastny and fired the puck top shelf for his third goal in the past four games and fifth in eight games this month. Throw in six assists, and Backes has had a hand in nearly half of St. Louis' 26 goals in March.
He also has posted a +5 rating, thanks in part to great play by linemates Alexander Steen and T.J. Oshie. The trio often serves as the best bellwether for the Blues, and they've picked it up a notch with the regular season nearing its end.
• Power play can't break through. More and more things keep going right for the St. Louis power play.
But despite improved puck movement and increasing time in the offensive zone, the Blues can't seem to break out of their scoring slump. Winnipeg goaltender Ondrej Pavelec made sure St. Louis came up empty on all three of its power plays, despite top-notch chances from Oshie and Alex Pietrangelo.
That sent the Blues to 13.3 percent on the power play since scoring two goals in the first period of a 7-2 win over San Jose on Jan. 8. St. Louis hasn't had more than two power-play goals in a game since then and has converted in consecutive games only once.
Those struggles began long before an injury in early February to Kevin Shattenkirk, the clear point man and points leader for the Blues on the power play. But they certainly haven't gotten any better without him, converting only seven of 52 opportunities for 13.5 percent.
• Pivotal games ahead. Despite the end of a three-game road win streak, St. Louis could still be in great shape with a strong finish to its longest road trip of the year.
The Blues head back south to the U.S. this weekend for back-to-back games at Minnesota and Detroit, two teams fighting to maintain a playoff spot in their respective conferences. St. Louis lost to the Wild at home last Saturday, and the Red Wings beat the Blues at home in overtime in January.
But if St. Louis can get revenge, it can stay ahead of slumping Nashville and surging Chicago atop the Central Division. The Blues have still earned points in 14 of their past 16 road games, including 12 wins.
You can follow Luke Thompson on Twitter at @FS_LukeT or email him at lukegthompson87@gmail.com.
