In a rare event this season, the Tampa Bay Lightning lost in regulation, 4-3, to the St Louis Blues on Saturday.
The Blues improved to 40-27-8 and moved to within two points of the Nashville Predators who were losing, 5-0, to the Winnipeg Jets.
Brayden Schenn had a goal for Blues – file photo by Lewis Bleiman
“We need to make a push,” Vladimir Tarasenko said. “Whatever other teams are playing doesn’t matter, it’s seven games left. Every point matters, especially after last year, and we know this. Just try to focus on our game.”
Tarasenko had a goal and two points in the win.
The Bolts dropped to 58-14-4.
“Took us a little bit to get our legs underneath us, and for obviously the final two periods, I thought we played pretty darn well,” Tampa head coach Jon Cooper said. “We had some real good looks, they just didn’t go in, and then we got the unfortunate offside, but it was offside, so it’s tough.”
Jordan Binnington made 39 saves to get the win for the Blues.
“There’s a lot of momentum changes in that game. Our fans helped us out a couple times,” Binnington said. “It was just a battle from the start of the second period on. Thankfully, we had a good first period and kind of built off that and just competed right till the end.”
Alex Killorn, Steve Stamkos and Brayden Point scored for the Bolts.
“For most of the first, I think it was a pretty even game, but for the second and third, we took over,” Victor Hedman said. “That’s natural when you’re down three goals. You’ve got to make a push. We tied the game, but half the puck was still on the blue line.”
St Louis built a 3-0 lead in the first period.
“It was a good push for us, but we slipped a little bit in the second,” Tarasenko said. “We should work (on this) and we shouldn’t do this, give them feeling of the game. It became a tough match for us, but obviously always a 3-0 lead in the first is always good for us.”
Brayden Schenn, Robert Thomas and Alexander Steen also scored for the Blues.
“It’s huge, it’s huge for team confidence,” Schenn said. “They’re a very good team, playing great hockey, winning a lot of games, scoring a lot of goals. For us to come in and beat them two times this year obviously gives the team confidence, and we know we’re a good team in here.”
[WATCH: All Lightning vs. Blues highlights]
Andrei Vasilevsky made 22 saves in the loss.
“I thought our compete was there, but you just can’t spot them three goals like that,” Point said.
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