Ducks fall to Blues in overtime
ST. LOUIS -- There are no more games scheduled between the Ducks and St. Louis Blues in this truncated regular season. But are the two finished with each other?
In front of a sellout crowd at Scottrade Center, the Ducks and Blues engaged in a tight battle that might have served as a playoff preview with Chris Stewart's goal 45 seconds in overtime lifting St. Louis to a 2-1 victory Saturday night.
The Ducks (20-3-4) saw their five-game winning streak but maintain a comfortable cushion right behind NHL-leading Chicago while the Blues (16-10-2) have moved into fourth place in the Western Conference.
"You never know," defenseman Bryan Allen said. "There's still how many games left but these are both going to be playoff teams. And you've got to realize that.
"We've been aware of that lately, of teams we might play in the playoffs. You try to keep that in the back of your mind for sure."
Teemu Selanne's turnover led to the Blues' Vladimir Sobotka making some nifty dangle moves on the winger and Ducks defenseman Cam Fowler before finding Stewart, who deked goalie Jonas Hiller one way and put home a backhand for the easy winner.
For the third consecutive game, Hiller was locked in a tight goaltending battle. This time, it was hot Blues rookie Jake Allen who outdueled him as he made 27 saves to improve to 8-1.
The game's only scores in regulation came by the Ducks' Saku Koivu in the first and the Blues' Kris Russell on the power play in the second.
The Ducks still managed a point for the 10th consecutive game and ended their three-game Midwest swing with five out of a possible six points.
"I don't know how we can (gripe) about that," Coach Bruce Boudreau said. "You'd like to get 96 points in a 48-game season. Sometimes it doesn't happen."
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