National Hockey League
BOXSCORE | RECAP
St. Louis 3, Winnipeg 1
When: 8:00 PM ET, Monday, March 17, 2014
Where: Scottrade Center, St. Louis, Missouri
Referees: Greg Kimmerly, Tim Peel
Linesmen: Derek Amell, Brad Kovachik
Attendance: 16665

Blues 3, Jets 1: Captain David Backes scored the tiebreaking goal in the third period before adding an empty-net tally as host St. Louis became the first team in the league to surpass 100 points.

Brenden Morrow added a second-period goal and defenseman Jay Bouwmeester collected two assists to help the Blues win for the eighth time in nine games (8-0-1) and remain undefeated in regulation (20-0-2) against Central Division opponents. Ryan Miller turned aside 16 shots to move to 7-0-1 since he was acquired from Buffalo.

Rookie Eric O'Dell scored the lone goal early in the third period for Winnipeg, which tumbled to its seventh defeat in eight games (1-4-3). Backup netminder Al Montoya made 22 saves for the Jets in his second straight start.

Backes put St. Louis ahead to stay with 6:51 to play when he collected a rebound of defenseman Ian Cole's one-timer and swept home the rebound from the slot. His goal came just over 11 minutes after the Jets scored the equalizer when Evander Kane gained control in his own end and skated up the left side before feeding an onrushing O'Dell, who cut inside and slid a backhander past a sprawled Miller for the equalizer at the 1:55 mark.

Following a scoreless opening 20 minutes, the Blues struck 1:44 into the second period when Derek Roy cut in front the left side and fed a perfect pass to Morrow in the slot for an easy wrister into an open net. Backes capped the scoring with his 23rd goal at the 18:49 mark.

GAME NOTEBOOK: Chris Porter scored an empty-net tally with one-tenth of a second remaining, but officials negated the goal 15 minutes after the game, ruling the play was blown dead. ... Blues F T.J. Oshie was not with the team due to the birth of his baby daughter Monday while St. Louis also was without 21-goal scorer Vladimir Tarasenko, who is scheduled undergo hand surgery Wednesday and is expected to be sidelined for six weeks. ... Jets F Dustin Byfuglien was held off the scoresheet after notching six goals and two assists in his previous five games. ... Roy halted a nine-game point drought with his assist on Morrow's goal while Bouwmeester notched his first points in 12 contests.
Top Game Performances
 
Winnipeg   St. Louis
Eric O'Dell 1 Points David Backes 2
Eric O'Dell 1 Goals David Backes 2
Zach Bogosian 1 Assists Jay Bouwmeester 2
N/A Power Play Goals David Backes 1
N/A Short Handed Goals N/A
Al Montoya .920 Save Percentage Ryan Miller .941
Al Montoya 23 Saves Ryan Miller 16
Team Stats Summary
 
Team Shots Goals Power Play Penalty Kill Penalty Mins Face Offs Won
Winnipeg 17 1 0-1 2-3 59 24
St. Louis 25 3 1-3 1-1 55 35
Upcoming Games
  • St. Louis will play their next game on the road against Chicago. The Blues have a W/L % of .660 after a win and .762 after a loss.
  • Winnipeg will play their next game at home against Colorado. The Jets have a W/L % of .452 after a win and .436 after a loss.