ST. LOUIS — Together, the Dallas Stars and St. Louis Blues were 0 for 11 on the power play headed into overtime.
Time to discuss strategy before the extra period helped the Blues finally end their 0-fer. They had 1:46 remaining at the faceoff.
“We get a free timeout, get to kind of collect ourselves and take a deep breath, and were able to make sure that we’re focused on doing the right plays,” said defenceman Kevin Shattenkirk, who got the game-winner at 1:11 of overtime to end the Stars’ four-game winning streak on Tuesday night.
“We’re not going to get too individualistic and make sure we’re all playing together.”
Brian Elliott had another strong game in net for St. Louis, which has won four of five and tightened the Central Division race a bit. They’re in third with 75 points, five points behind first-place Dallas.’
Jaden Schwartz got the other goal for the Blues on a fluke when a dump-in bounced off referee Kelly Sutherland’s ankle at 12 seconds of the second period. The Blues have won five of six against the Central Division-leading Stars, who won in overtime at Nashville on Monday.
“That’s a good point coming off the back-to-back, a huge game last night and they’re sitting here resting,” coach Lindy Ruff said. “I thought we played a smart game; if our execution was a little better we would have come out of here with two (points).”
The Blues finished 1 for 5 on the power play while Dallas totalled just four shots on its seven unsuccessful power plays.
“I thought our energy was good,” forward Ales Hemsky said. “We skated pretty well. There were a lot of good things we did.”
Elliott made his 15th consecutive start, a career high, and had 17 saves. The Stars were held to a season-low for shots.
“I think we’re taking the momentum and the good feeling and that swagger we’ve had in the past that when we play our game nobody can beat us,” Elliott said. “I think having that attitude is huge for us.”
Mattias Janmark tied it late in regulation for Dallas. Janmark has scored in three straight games including the game-winner in overtime Monday.
Shattenkirk ripped a one-timer past Kari Lehtonen for the winner, his 10th of the season. Dallas was a man short after Jason Demers was whistled for interference with 14.1 seconds left in regulation.
Lehtonen scrambled back to the goal late after venturing out to field the puck behind the net on the goal by Jaden Schwartz.
“That falls into ‘blank happens’ category,” Ruff said.
Lehtonen said he’s had a handful of goals waved off after the puck deflected off the referee and had been hopeful that would happen again.
“It’s just a bad bounce and I have a lot of respect for those referees,” Lehtonen said. “I was happy that I was able to keep going with my game and not let it frustrate me.”
Janmark tied it with 6:34 remaining on a shot from the side of the net after Valeri Nichushkin flubbed a shot that trickled between the legs of a defender and wide.
The Blues killed off four power plays in the scoreless first period, allowing just three shots. The Stars had no shots at even strength.
“We were on top of them, pressuring them like crazy,” coach Ken Hitchcock said. “That’s what I like. We took the wind out of their sails early and they took it out of us in the second period.”
Dallas was strong on the penalty kill in the second period, thwarting 1:09 of St. Louis’ two-man advantage to keep it a one-goal game.
Notes: Jake Allen, out with a knee injury since Jan. 8, was a full participant in the pre-game skate but coach Ken Hitchcock again shrugged off questions about a timetable for the goalie’s return. … The Stars’ previous low for shots was 19 in a 5-3 victory over Boston on Nov. 3. … Shattenkirk played a game-high 27 minutes and 16 seconds.
