Eurolanche

Blues stick with Allen vs Avs

Season series: The St. Louis Blues, behind two goals from Vladimir Tarasenko and a shootout goal from Joakim Lindstrom, defeated their Central Division rivals the Colorado Avalanche 3-2 on Nov. 1.

Blues team scope: The Blues won their third in a row Thursday, a 6-3 victory against the New York Islanders. Alexander Steen (two goals, one assist) and T.J.Oshie (one goal, two assists) each had three-point games. Steen's goal 4:32 into the third period, one of four the Blues scored in the period, was the go-ahead goal. "[David Backes and Oshie] played really well, helped me along," said Steen, who missed the previous two games with a lower-body injury. "[Patrick Berglund] too. They really helped me along actually. The second goal was just an unreal play by [Oshie]." Coach Ken Hitchcock said goalie Jake Allen, who had 25 saves Thursday, will start against the Avalanche. "I thought he played well," Hitchcock said of Allen. "He really gave us an opportunity [Thursday] when we were killing the penalty early in the game and when we were killing a penalty late in the game. I think he did a heck of a job. We want to reward that."

Avalanche team scope: The Avalanche snapped a four-game losing streak (0-3-1) Thursday by rallying past the Winnipeg Jets 4-3 in a shootout. Jarome Iginla and Ryan O'Reilly scored in the final 7:05 to help the Avalanche overcome a 3-1 deficit, then Nathan MacKinnon and Matt Duchene scored shootout goals. O'Reilly's goal with 2:42 remaining tied the game. Goalie Calvin Pickard made 30 saves and has filled in admirably for the injured Semyon Varlamov. "Our goalie was phenomenal," coach Patrick Roy said after the game. "… It's fun. I'm happy for him. He's competing hard and he deserves to be where he is, and we're certainly proud of him." Before losing both games in Denver last season, the Avalanche won eight straight on home ice against the Blues.

by Louie Korac for nhl.com