Blues hand Panthers sixth straight loss
SUNRISE, Fla. -- Patrik Berglund scored the go-ahead goal with 9:23 remaining in the third period to lead the St. Louis Blues to a 6-3 win over the Florida Panthers on Thursday night at the BB&T Center.
The winning goal -- the 23rd of the season for Berglund -- came on a power play. After Keith Yandle was penalized for slashing Ryan Reaves, the Blues took advantage. Jordan Schmaltz's shot from the high slot was deflected by Berglund while Dmitrij Jaskin provided a screen on Panthers goalie James Reimer.
St. Louis (44-29-7) added another power-play goal three minutes later as Alex Pietrangelo redirected a pass from Jaden Schwartz, who had three points on the night, including the final goal with 59 seconds left.
Blues goalie Jake Allen earned the win with 29 saves.
Reimer, who had missed three straight games due to a head injury, took the loss for Florida (33-36-11), which was eliminated from playoff contention last week. The Panthers have lost six games in a row as well as 17 of their past 22.
Reaves' goal, his sixth of the season, opened the scoring with 12:16 expired in the first period.
Panthers rookie defenseman Ian McCoshen, who made his NHL debut, coughed up the puck in the neutral zone. Former Panthers right winger Scottie Upshall got the puck to Reaves, who was in alone, beating Reimer high to the glove side.
McCoshen made up for his mistake by earning his first NHL point, getting a secondary assist on Trocheck's goal that tied the score 1-1 with 6:41 gone in the second period.
Jaromir Jagr got the primary assist, springing Trocheck on an odd-man rush. Trocheck could've passed to Jonathan Huberdeau on the right wing but fired instead, beating Allen with a wrist shot.
St. Louis took a 2-1 lead 56 seconds later. Tarasenko's shot from the high slot beat Reimer to the blocker side, hit the crossbar and rebounded into the net off the goalie's back. Jaden Schwartz and Ivan Barbashev picked up assists.
Florida tied the score just 55 seconds into the third period on a wrap-around goal by rookie defenseman Michael Matheson. Huberdeau and Alex Petrovic earned assists.
St. Louis surged ahead on a goal by David Perron with 14:24 expired in the third, with Colton Parayko earning the assist.
Florida, though, rallied again, tying the score 3-3 on a one-timer by Dennis Malgin from the high slot. Colton Sceviour and Jason Demers got the assists.
NOTES: The Blues were without C Paul Stastny (broken foot) and D Robert Bortuzzo (upper body). ... Blues D Carl Gunnarsson (lower body) returned from the injured list. ... Multiple published reports this week indicated that interim coach Tom Rowe will not return behind the bench next season. ... The Panthers were without three injured stars: G Roberto Luongo (lower body), D Aaron Ekblad (concussion) and C Aleksander Barkov (upper body). ... Panthers RW Jaromir Jagr, 45, said he wants to return next season but there's no agreement yet with the team. ... The Panthers scratched LW Jussi Jokinen, D Jakub Kindl and D MacKenzie Weegar. ... St. Louis scratched LW Zach Sanford, RW Nail Yakupov and D Petteri Lindbohm. ... Florida plays its 2016-2017 home finale on Saturday against the Buffalo Sabres. ... St. Louis plays its last road game of the regular season on Saturday at the Carolina Hurricanes.