There was a special guest up in the press box on Saturday night at Scottrade Center, Todd McLellan . The San Jose coach, who guides his Sharks against the Blues this evening at Scottrade, was in town early, studying the Note, looking for keys to beating the NHL's best home team.
The Colorado Avalanche gave McLellan plenty of material with which to work. Following an inspiring victory at New Jersey on Thursday, the Blues demonstrated plenty weaknesses in front of a sellout crowd of 19,150. But they didn't crack.
Carlo Colaiacovo's goal with 1:42 remaining in overtime provided the Blues with a 3-2 victory. Patrik Berglund fired a shot from the point and Colaiacovo tipped the shot home for his second goal of the season, a game winner.
The Blues own the best home record in the NHL, with 50 points on a 23-3-4 mark. And they have been among the best team in the league – period – under coach Ken Hitchcock, building a 27-7-7 record on his watch.
That said, they didn't give away any secrets against the Avalanche, who pushed the Blues to the limit despite playing their second game in as many nights. Their success this season notwithstanding, the Blues have made a habit of making the opposing netminder one of the stars of the game.
On this occasion, they out-shot the Avs 41-18 during regulation, but only pierced Colorado netminder Semyon Varlamov for two David Perron goals before Colaiacovo's heroics. Perron also got an assist on the overtime winner.
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Overtime it is, still tied 2-2. Blues have out-shot Colorado 41-18.
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Looking like overtime, less than a minute to go.
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The Blues survive a late penalty to Ian Cole, as Colorado's Peter Mueller takes a penalty with 41 seconds to play.
The second period ends scoreless, but the Blues will carry over 1:19 of a power play to start the third. The Blues have outscored the opposition 12-3 in the third period over the last 17 games.
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Not many chances during an evenly-played second period. But Colorado has a power-play opportunity with 2:24 remaining.
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The Blues took a 2-1 lead on David Perron's second goal of the period. With a 5-on-3 power-play advantage, Perron gained possesion and came off the boards to fire a shot past Semyon Varlamov at 12:12. It was Perron's fifth goal in four games.
But the Avs tied it on a late power-play goal. Blues forward Scott Nichol went off for interference and former Blues No. 1 draft pick Erik Johnson powered a shot past Brian Elliott to tie the score with 51 seconds remaining.
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Colorado took a 1-0 lead 10 minutes into the game. David Van Der Guilk won a faceoff back to defenseman Shane O'Brien, who blasted a shot from the point. The puck appeared to deflect off the stick of Ian Cole and past netminder Brian Elliott.
But the Blues came back to tie it at 12:12 with a power-play goal by Daivd Perron. The goal is the fourth in three games for Perron and his eighth of the season. T. J. Oshie and David Backes had assist.
