There is no quit in the Blues. While the Eastern Conference also-rans tank left and right, the Andy Murray’s team battles on in the Western Conference.

With their 2-1 victory over the Coyotes, the Blues slid past Phoenix into 13th place. (The Kings, with a shootout win at Minnesota, stayed a step ahead.)

Here are some quick thoughts on the tilt:

• Blues goaltender Chris Mason suffered a tough start to the game. He went behind the net and whiffed on his clearing attempt, allowing the Coyotes to work the puck to Shane Doan in the slot for an easy goal. Ouch.
• Mason pulled himself together, which was critical. The Blues started miserably, mustering just four shots during the first period. Phoenix did a terrific job closing up the middle of the ice, but still . . .
• Andy McDonald had a golden chance to tie the game early in the second quarter, but he fanned on a bouncing puck while trying to hammer a weak-side rebound into the open net.
• Defenseman Carlo Colaiacovo also had a chance to tie the game with a second-period rebound conversion – off a David Backes shot – but goaltender Ilya Bryzgalov managed to make a toe save to thwart him.
• But then David Perron bounced the puck on goal from center ice . . . and Bryzgalov allowed it to bleed through him into the net. On paper, that looked like a nifty game-tying goal. Coyotes coach Wayne Gretzky was most displeased.
• The Blues were upset by a double-minor penalty assessed to David Backes for high sticking, but Jay McClement eased their angst by converting a two-on-one shorthanded rush into a 2-1 lead. Then the Note did a nice job killing off the penalties to maintain that margin.
• Gotta love the rugged play of defenseman Roman Polak. When Hockey Guy checked in with Blues assistant coach Rick Wamsley recently, he cited Polak as the team’s biggest positive surprise this season.
• The Coyotes used their team speed to create opportunities, but the Blues back-checked with diligence. And oft-maligned defenseman Jay McKee made some dazzling defensive plays around the net.
• On the other hand, Jeff Woywitka took a late delay-of-game penalty for shoveling the puck over the glass. Not good.
• McClement, with a shorthanded breakaway, and Brad Boyes, with a two-on-one rush, had chances to score the clinching goal. But McClement got stopped and Boyes failed to redirect a return pass onto the goal.

EVERY GAME COUNTS

Before the Tuesday night’s game at Scottrade Center, Blues president John Davidson talked about keeping his options open as the trade deadline nears.

With three consecutive victories, the Note could tighten the Western Conference playoff race. That could limit his willingness to sign off on bail-out trades.

But if the Blues stumble, then the eighth spot could become the Bridge Too Far and encourage some deadline activity.

Here is the gist of J.D.’s thoughts:

• Keith Tkachuk could have real value at the deadline. On the other hand, Tkachuk has set a great example for the young players off the ice and performed selflessly on it. Although he hasn’t scored much the last few months, Tkachuk played more of a defensive role as the No. 3 center – matching up against top opposing centers.
• Given the number of young players in development here and elsewhere, Davidson isn’t THAT hungry to add draft picks any way he can. In fact, the franchise is getting closer to be the point where dealing prospects and/or young veterans for established stars could make sense.
• Doug Armstrong has been to Russia to scout the team’s prospects over there, including goaltender Konstantin Barulin. Perhaps with the money crunch hitting the Kontinental Hockey League, some of those guys could shake loose.

TYSON NASH CHIT-CHAT

Former Blues agitator Tyson Nash has found a new calling – color commentary for the Coyotes. He last played in Toyko, where the hockey wasn’t but the life experience was terrific.

“They treated us like kings,” Nash reported.

RUMOR-O-RAMA

Rangers general manager Glen Sather badly overpaid for Scott Gomez, which is why the Rangers may make him available. That, and he hasn’t been the most coachable guy ever. Ask Tom Renney about that . . . HockeyBuzz.com was also trumpeting a possible Islanders-Flames deal involving old friend Bill Guerin.