Blues 3, Stars 0
ST. LOUIS -- Center David Backes scored one goal and assisted on one and goalie Jake Allen posted his fourth shutout of the season to carry the St. Louis Blues to a 3-0 win over the Dallas Stars on Saturday night.
The loss was only the second in regulation for the Stars since Nov. 10 and snapped a seven-game streak of earning at least one point, having gone 5-0-2 during that stretch.
Backes gave the Blues the lead just two minutes into the game on a power play after center Jason Spezza was called for roughing at 1:26 of the first period. Backes was credited with his ninth goal of the season after deflecting a slap shot from left winger Alexander Steen.
The goal was only the second by the Blues in 13 power-play chances in their last six games.
The Blues tied their season high with 17 shots in the first period, outshooting the Stars 17-5, but could not get another shot past goalie Antti Niemi. It was only the seventh time in 30 games this season that the Blues led after the first period.
Backes set up the Blues' second goal with a pass to right winger Vladimir Tarasenko, who scored his 17th of the season 11:10 into the third period.
The Blues increased their lead to 3-0 four minutes later on a rebound from right winger Ryan Reaves, his first goal of the season.
Backes also received a penalty for fighting in the first period, completing the so-called Gordie Howe hat trick.
Allen stopped 26 shots in his first shutout since Nov. 10 and handing the Stars their first shutout loss of the season. The Stars lead the league in goals and had scored three or more in 23 of their first 29 games this season.
Allen made 11 saves in the second period and turned aside 10 Dallas shots in the third period to preserve the shutout.
The Stars had won their last four games in St. Louis during the past two years and were 11-2-2 on the road this season before Saturday night's loss.
NOTES: For the second season in a row, a Stars player was the first player in the league to score 20 goals. LW Jamie Benn scored his 20th goal into an empty net on Friday night. C Tyler Seguin was the first to reach that plateau last season. ... Saturday night’s game was the first of five between the Blues and Stars this season. The two teams will play home-and-home games on Dec. 26-27. ... C Scott Gomez was a healthy scratch for the Blues for the third consecutive game. ... The Blues will host the Avalanche on Sunday night while the Stars are off until Tuesday night, when they host the Blue Jackets.