Before Tuesday's game with Vancouver, the Blues had played three consecutive overtime games, losing all three, two in shootouts. In those overtimes, the Blues seem to show somewhat of a split personality.

In an overtime loss to Calgary and an overtime-shootout loss at Philadelphia, the Blues played the 4-on-4 session straight up, with two defensemen and two forwards on the ice throughout the extra session. Keep in mind, those defense pairings included work for Roman Polak, Mike Weaver and Darryl Sydor.

Those three, known primarily for their defensive steadiness, have combined to score six goals over the last three seasons. Before Tuesday's tilt, Polak had two NHL goals and 20 points in 109 NHL games. Weaver had three goals and 32 points in 277 games. Sydor, who might be considered the "sniper" of the group, had four goals and 26 assists over his last three seasons.

By the time the Blues fashioned a third consecutive tie in regulation against Atlanta, coach Andy Murray was sending out shifts of three forwards and just one defenseman, an approach one might see as more aggressive.

Murray said his team's approach to overtime has more to do with who is playing well, who the opponent has on the ice and what the circumstances are — conference or nonconference game — than defenseman-to-forward ratio.

That said, it's not like there are many dynamic options these days, especially in terms of offensive defensemen. As a group, the eight defensemen currently on the Blues roster came into the Vancouver game with a grand total of 14 goals and 100 assists over the last two seasons, or an average of less than two goals apiece.

MCDONALD MILESTONE

Andy McDonald celebrated playing his 500th NHL game on Tuesday night by scoring a goal 18 seconds into the game. Generously listed at 5-11 in the press guide, McDonald had 126 goals and 221 assists coming into his momentous start.

Often one of the smaller players on the ice, McDonald has overcome a number of injuries in his career, but he has learned to survive.

"You have to realize what your strengths are and use those abilities," McDonald said. "For me, it's probably skating. You realize you can't beat up a guy who is 6-feet-whatever in the corners, so you have to use your speed and get out."