Alexey Toropchenko and Nathan Walker had a goal and an assist each to lead the streaking St. Louis Blues past the visiting Chicago Blackhawks 4-1 on Saturday.
Robert Thomas and Zack Bolduc also scored for the Blues, who won their fifth straight game and improved to 12-2-2 in their last 16.
Joel Hofer made 26 saves for St. Louis to win his third straight start.
Ilya Mikheyev scored and Arvid Soderblom made 21 saves for the Blackhawks, whose winless streak reached seven games at 0-6-1.
Blackhawks defenseman Alec Martinez exited the game in the first period with an upper-body injury. He crashed into the boards after colliding with Blues forward Jake Neighbours.
Chicago forward Jason Dickinson immediately instigated a fight with Neighbours, resulting in 17 minutes of penalties for Dickinson, who did not return to the game, though the exact reason is unclear.
The Blues had the only power play in the scoreless first period. Alexandre Texier, in the lineup due to Pavel Buchnevich’s illness, got the best opportunity with a shot from the left flank.
The Blackhawks generated multiple scoring chances in the second period, including a slot shot from former Blues playoff hero Patrick Maroon just after he got a standing ovation.
The Blues had Maroon take the mid-game bow because he announced plans to retire after the season.
St. Louis finally broke through with 4:47 left in the second period. After Jordan Kyrou and Dylan Holloway each batted the puck in the air, Thomas swatted it in at the left post.
Just 2:07 later, Toropchenko made it 2-0 by converting a cross-ice pass from Radek Faksa.
The Blackhawks cut their deficit in half with a short-handed goal with 54 seconds left in the period. Mikheyev stole the puck and scored on the subsequent rush.
Chicago nearly tied the game on the same penalty kill, but Hofer stopped Landon Slaggert’s breakaway.
Walker made it 3-1 off the rush 1:12 into the third period by converting Toropchenko’s cross-crease pass, then Bolduc pushed the lead to 4-1 by banging in the rebound of Philip Broberg’s shot.
–Field Level Media
