Blues 3, Flames 2
ST. LOUIS -- Right wing Vladimir Tarasenko scored his league-leading 21st goal of the year and assisted on another in the first period to send the St. Louis Blues to a 3-2 win over the Calgary Flames on Saturday.
Goalie Brian Elliott stopped 36 of 38 shots to earn his first victory since Oct. 18, snapping the Flames' seven-game winning streak, their longest since they won eight games in a row in November 2005.
Tarasenko got the day started just 1:23 into the game when he deflected a shot by defenseman Carl Gunnarsson past goalie Karri Ramo. It was the fifth consecutive game with a goal for Tarasenko, the longest streak of his career.
Just 2:24 later, Tarasenko assisted on defenseman Colton Parayko's first goal since Nov. 7 as he flipped a backhand shot past Ramo after getting around defenseman T.J. Brodie. The two goals came on the first four shots of the game for the Blues (20-10-4), who extended their winning streak to three games.
The Blues increased the lead to 3-0 at 14:53 of the second period, when center Jori Lehtera converted a cross-ice pass from left wing Alexander Steen. Tarasenko earned the second assist, giving him his second three-point game of the season.
Elliott, the backup to goalie Jake Allen, shut out the Flames (15-15-2) through the first two periods before center Sean Monahan scored his 12th of the season at 4:00 of the third period. The goal originally was waved off because of a high stick, but it was changed on the ice and a video review was inconclusive.
The Flames cut the deficit to 3-2 on a goal by defenseman Mark Giordano with 3:53 to play.
Elliott, who extended his personal winning streak over Calgary to seven games, kept the Flames scoreless on four power-play opportunities. Calgary has the lowest-ranked power play in the league and has now scored just two goals in their last 51 power plays over 15 games. The Blues, conversely, have killed off 29 of their last 30 penalties.
The Blues have won six consecutive games against the Flames and seven in a row at home, dating back to April 1, 2011.
NOTES: Blues C Kyle Brodziak missed his first game of the season because of a skate cut on his leg suffered Thursday. He was replaced by C Scott Gomez, who had been a healthy scratch the past six games. ... Calgary RW Michael Frolik will be out "a few weeks," the team said, because of an upper-body injury suffered Tuesday at Nashville. The injury, believed to be to his shoulder, will not require surgery. ... C Lance Bouma, out since Oct. 13 because of a broken leg, also is not expected back for the final game of Calgary's four-game trip, Sunday at Detroit. ... The Blues play at Philadelphia on Monday night.