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There's something to be said for just finishing a game. Just icing it, just getting that one last insurance goal, can make the world of difference for fans and the players. No one wants to finish a game with the specter of another goal hanging over them; no one wants extra time, which is just another chance to lose on a sloppy play. The way that the Blues played the last few minutes of the game, sloppy play was a possible precursor to letting a point slip away.
The first period started off with a bang, with Wade Redden scoring his first goal since 2010: a rocket of a slapshot past Cristopher Nilstorp and a bunch of traffic a little over five minutes into the game.
Of course, this being a road game, it was answered just 26 seconds later by Tomas Vincour. To add insult to the injury of letting a lead disappear, Michael Ryder scored a little over six minutes later while Vladimir Tarasenko was sitting in the box on a tripping penalty.
The Blues made up for their first period lapses in judgement in the second period with three goals and a complete schooling of the Dallas defense. David Perron's first of the evening was a wrist shot that snuck past Nilstorp a little under 11 minutes in:
The next goal for the Blues came on the powerful power play thanks to Chris Stewart, who was in the right place at the right time for a supreme pass by Patrik Berglund across the front of the net:
Perron added what would eventually wind up being the game winner in an obvious attempt to make us forget about the fact that he's been a penalty taking machine to start the season.
Unfortunately for the Blues, that little spirt of an offense that was the second period was about all they could muster. They played well-ish through the third, despite Ryan Garbutt's goal about two and a half minutes in throwing everything for a loop. The Blues held on through the end of the game, but it was almost as though they really really wanted Dallas to get that extra point. The last three minutes were a flurry of shots at Halak, several heart attack inducing near misses (and a few posts), and the Blues amazing inability to clear the zone or win a face-off. Add in a Barret Jackman penalty for tripping, and you could be excused for calling 911 due to heart-attack like symptoms.
The Blues square off against the Minnesota Wild tomorrow night at home at 7:00. I know the TV commercials said 5:00, but the website says 7:00, so go with that. See everyone tomorrow night!
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