ST. LOUIS--Chris Stewart remains on a mission. Patrik Berglund is sailing so smoothly these days he's now bouncing pucks off teammate's skates and into the net. And the St. Louis Blues are still having a hard time losing with Jake Allen in net.

The Blues topped the San Jose Sharks for the second time four days Tuesday night, leading the entire way in a 4-2 victory before a crowd of 16,583 at Scottrade Center.

Stewart netted two goals, including an empty-netter, giving him 11 on the season. David Perron picked up his ninth of the year on a play in which a pass by Berglund went off Perron's skate and into the net. And in his eighth game since being called up from Peoria, Chris Porter netted his first goal of the season.

"We played with a lot of heart," Blues coach Ken Hitchcock said. "Other than when they got the power play there at the end, I thought we were really controlling it and playing well. They're a huge team. I thought for what we had, and the way we managed it, we did a great job."

A 5-on-3 power-play goal by San Jose's Dan Boyle with 6 minutes, 28 seconds left in regulation made Porter's goal, which gave the Blues a 3-1 lead with six seconds left in the second period, stand as the game-winner.

The Sharks had 1:56 remaining in 5-on-4 power-play time after Boyle's goal, but the Blues' penalty-killing unit kept the cushion before Stewart's empty-netter. Allen made 39 saves on a season-high 41 shots against, including 19 in the second period. Allen's revenge against San Jose -- the only team to beat him to date -- improved his record to 6-1 and was the first win at home for the goaltender.

"We blocked a lot of shots (22)," Allen said. "San Jose got a lot of shots through, but they could have had a lot more. That's one of the keys of this team. That's when we're on top of our game."

The victory also gave the Blues consecutive wins at home for the first time since January. The club will continue its three-game home stand Thursday against Phoenix.

Other than Boyle's power-play goal, the only damage done by San Jose was a goal by Brent Burns, who is regularly a defenseman but was playing forward for the first time since 2004-05 in the minor leagues.

Burns was also involved in potentially other damaging news for the Blues. In the second period, right winger T.J. Oshie went to check Burns and Oshie came up lame. He went to the locker room with just over 11 minutes left in the period and didn't return with what the Blues announced was an upper-body injury.

"We'll have more evaluation on it (Wednesday)," Hitchcock said.

With only 11 forwards, the Blues picked up the slack. Even though Hitchcock broke up the point-producing line of Stewart, Perron and Berglund, they still found a way to get on the scoreboard.

Stewart took a nifty pass off the boards from David Backes and put a wrist shot past San Jose goalie Antti Niemi for a 1-0 lead with 6 minutes, 18 seconds left in the first period. In a bid for his 11th goal early in the second period, Stewart clanked the post. He later got it on the empty-netter.

"I can't read too far into who I'm playing with," Stewart said. "I think I've got chemistry with a few guys. I'm just going to compete hard."

With under 9:30 to play in the middle frame, Berglund was streaking down the right side of the offensive zone when he fed the puck to Perron. The pass went off Perron's left skate from long distance and got past Niemi for a two-goal advantage.

Perron's ninth goal of the season held up after an official review, which agreed with the on-ice call that he did not demonstrate a kicking motion.

"Perry was lined up and obviously it was a bad pass," Berglund said. "It's nice to be a little lucky, get an assist once in a while."

The Blues didn't hold the 2-0 lead long. Just over a minute later, Burns pulled the Sharks to within one with his first goal of the season. The puck squeaked through the pads of Allen.

The game-changing goal came from Porter with six seconds left in the second period. Defenseman Barret Jackman backhanded a shot on net, and Niemi made the save, but a long rebound went to Porter.

"A lot of chances in the last few games," said Porter, who had a combined six shots in his last two games. "I'm glad to find the back of the net."

Jackman assisted on Porter's goal and added another on Stewart's empty-net goal, giving him eight helpers this season, including six in his last five games.

"I come streaky," Jackman said. "I'll probably cool off here pretty quick."

Porter replied: "He's Nick Lidstrom back there. He's playing extremely well for us. He's a leader for us and we're kind of following his lead for sure."

Many a night Hitchcock has said the Blues had too many passengers. On Tuesday, his leaders were abundant.

"We needed the goalie in the second period, he came through for us, and we needed our best players to be our best players," Hitchcock said. "Stewy gets two (goals) for us, (David) Backes was a horse, Berglund was a horse. We were missing five forwards -- almost half your hockey club -- and still we get the win. It's a good sign."

(c)2013 St. Louis Post-Dispatch

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