Blues are five points clear of LA after 3-1 win

In Los Angeles Monday night, Jake Allen made 38 saves to drive the St Louis Blues to a 3-1 win over the Kings.

Alexander Steen scored in win over LA – file photo by Jack Lima

Alexander Steen, David Perron and Magnus Paajarvi scored for the Blues in the win.

“You could feel the [intensity] in the first period. Everybody was trying to do the right thing, and it was a tough physical game,” Paajarvi said. “Not very many highlights, so to speak, but [goalie Jake Allen] came through. He was huge.”

The Blues are on a streak of late and have now built a five-point cushion between themselves and the Kings for the second wild card spot in the west.

“We’re just trying to approach it one game at a time here. This was a great challenge for us, and we know our next one is going to be as well,” Blues head coach Mike Yeo said. “We’re just trying to stay in the moment and get prepared every game. We’re also in a fight here, so we don’t have the luxury of relaxing a little bit here. We know that we have to keep pushing, and the guys are doing a heck of a job.”

Dustin Brown was the lone goal scorer for the Kings who had a chance to close the gap on the Blues.

“Every time we play those guys, it’s a defensive battle, and tonight was no different,” Los Angeles captain Anze Kopitar said. “I don’t think our power play was at the level it needed to be, and obviously they got one on the power play, so that was the difference.”