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Blues Dominate Oilers In Sobotka's Return |
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The St. Louis Blues gain a little breathing room in the standing after dominating the Edmonton Oilers by a score of 6-2 tonight.
David Perron returned to the Scottrade Center for the first time since being traded to Edmonton this last off-season, and he made it entertaining, scoring the first goal of the game for the Oilers.
The Blues dominated the shot clock, registering 15 in the first period, and it was Vladimir Sobotka, in his return from a knee injury, lightning the lamp at the end of the first off a beautiful feed by Vladimir Tarasenko. T.J. Oshie would record an assist on the play as well.
The Blues took the lead just five minutes into the second period, as Vladimir Tarasenko registered his 20th goal of the season. T.J. Oshie and Vladimir Sobotka picked up the assists and it was a two point game for all three players already.
The Oilers tied the game at the 18:03 mark in the second period but it wasn't without some controversy. Barret Jackman took a knee to the head from Oilers forward Jesse Joensuu and didn't move for a while. The Oilers scored on a point shot that went off of the skate of Roman Polak, but Ryan Miller was voicing his opinion after he was knocked down in the crease by Matt Handricks. He wasn't even given an explanation on the play, as the official just waved him off. You could see that Miller was physically upset.
The third period was all Blues. They scored four times in the third period, and there was 78 penalty minutes, including four game misconducts. Ryan Reaves and Luke Gazdic were tossed after both were on their feet, yelling at one another in the penalty box. Mark Fraser and Vladimir Sobotka were tossed later in the period after jawing with one another on the ice.
Alex Pietrangelo potted a goal just 42 seconds into the third on a feed from Sobotka. It was Pietrangelo's eighth of the year and the third point of the night for Sobotka.
Jaden Schwartz got on the board, scoring his 20th of the season, not even four minutes later. David Backes and Alexander Steen both notched assists on the play to give the Blues a two goal lead early in the third.
T.J. Oshie scored off a rebound shot by Steen during a 5-on-3 powerplay for the Blues. Kevin Shattenkirk also recorded an assist on the play, giving him his 40th point of the year. Shattenkirk joined Pietrangelo (45 points) as defensemen who's reached the 40 point plateau for the Blues this year. The Blues are the only team in the league this season with two defensemen reaching 40 points. Jay Bouwmeester is just four points away from 40 point as well.
Schwartz would register his 21st goal of the year after putting in a Max Lapierre rebound midway through the third. Lapierre made deked around a defender, skated into the slot, did a little spin-o-rama and put a shot on net. Schwartz was there to put it in and it was 6-2 Blues. Magnus Paajarvi would also get an assist on the Schwartz goal, giving him his first point against his former team.
The Blues are back at it on Saturday, in Nashville, to take on the Predators before returning home Monday to take on the Winnipeg Jets.
St Louis Blues Blogger • 
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