No Stanley Cup slump for St Louis so far. The Blues just keep rolling along.
Jake Allen on Monday made 38 saves and Brayden Schenn scored his team-leading 14th goal as St Louis beat the short-handed Chicago Blackhawks 4-0 for their fourth consecutive victory.
“Sometimes it might be boring hockey, but that’s the way we play and that’s the way we won last year, and are continuing to have success,” Allen said.
Photo: AP
Jaden Schwartz, Tyler Bozak and Mackenzie MacEachern also scored for the Blues, who improved to 13-3-3 since star forward Vladimir Tarasenko was sidelined by a left-shoulder injury that required surgery.
So much for that championship hangover. The Blues (18-5-6) show no signs of slowing down coming off the franchise’s first Stanley Cup title.
“We’re a hard-working team,” Blues coach Craig Berube said. “We play good defense. Play a north-south game, that’s our identity and it works.”
It was Allen’s first shutout of the season and the 20th of his career, matching Jaroslav Halak for second on the franchise list. Brian Elliott leads the way with 25.
“Hopefully, a few more to come in the future,” said Allen, who serves as the backup for Jordan Binnington. “But it’s a credit to not just me, but a lot of the boys in front of me doing a lot of hard work.”
Chicago lost for the sixth time in seven games since a four-game winning streak.
The crowd of 21,284 booed after the final seconds ticked off.
“I didn’t think we played with the energy we needed to be good,” Blackhawks coach Jeremy Colliton said. “I thought the execution wasn’t there, either.”
The last-placed Blackhawks (10-12-5) played a man short because of injuries and the salary cap, going with 11 forwards and six defensemen.
Andrew Shaw was scratched with an unspecified injury, while fellow forwards Dylan Strome and Drake Caggiula remained out with concussions.
Chicago defenseman Duncan Keith missed his second straight game with a groin injury, while goaltender Robin Lehner was ruled out with an illness.
“It is what it is. We got down on the score pretty early in the game. Sometimes you shorten your bench in those situations anyway,” Blackhawks captain Jonathan Toews said. “It’s something we’re used to. It shouldn’t be that big of a deal.”
Chicago also announced before the game that assistant Marc Crawford will be away from the team while his conduct with another organization is reviewed. The 58-year-old joined Colliton’s staff in June.
The Blackhawks did not provide any details about what they are examining, but former NHL forward Sean Avery told the New York Post that Crawford kicked him after he was whistled for a too-many-men-on-the-ice penalty when he played for Crawford with the Los Angeles Kings during the 2006-2007 season.
“I understand the reason for a review,” Colliton said. “I can only speak for my time with Marc. He’s been excellent. I’ve really enjoyed that he’s added a lot to our group, and our staff and our players. I’ll leave it at that.”
St Louis went ahead to stay when MacEachern scored for the second straight game 2 minutes, 34 seconds into the first period. Vince Dunn’s shot went off the backboards and right in front to a wide-open MacEachern, who batted it in for his fourth of the season.
Schwartz made it 2-0 when he tipped Alex Pietrangelo’s power-play shot past a screened Crawford at 14:22 of the first.
The Blues put it away with two more in the third period.
Schenn drove a tumbling puck by Crawford at 8:56, then Bozak scored off a turnover by Blackhawks defenseman Olli Maatta with 1:49 left.
Elsewhere, the Islanders downed the Red Wings 4-1, the Golden Knights routed the Rangers 4-1, the Sabres spanked the Devils 7-1 and the Ducks dethroned the Kings 4-2.
US track and field athletes have about four dozen pieces to choose from when assembling their uniforms at the Olympics. The one grabbing the most attention is a high-cut leotard that barely covers the bikini line and has triggered debate between those who think it is sexist and others who say they do not need the Internet to make sure they have good uniforms. Among those critical or laughing at the uniforms included Paralympian Femita Ayanbeku, sprinter Britton Wilson and even athletes from other countries such as Britain’s Abigail Irozuru, who wrote on social media: “Was ANY female athlete consulted in
Four-time NBA all-star DeMarcus Cousins arrived in Taiwan with his family early yesterday to finish his renewed contract with the Taiwan Beer Leopards in the T1 League. Cousins initially played a four-game contract with the Leopards in January. On March 18, the Taoyuan-based team announced that Cousins had renewed his contract. “Hi what’s up Leopard fans, I’m back. I’m excited to be back and can’t wait to join the team,” Cousins said in a video posted on the Leopard’s Facebook page. “Most of all, can’t wait to see you guys, the fans, next weekend. So make sure you come out and support the Beer
Former US Masters champion Zach Johnson was left embarrassed after a foul-mouthed response to ironic cheers from spectators after a triple bogey at Augusta National on Friday. Johnson, the 2007 Masters winner, missed the cut after his three-over-par round of 75 left him on seven-over 151 for 36 holes, his six on the par-three 12th playing a big role in his downfall. Television footage showed Johnson reacting to sarcastic cheers and applause when he tapped in for the triple bogey by yelling: “Oh fuck off.” Such a response would be considered bad form in any golf tournament, but is particularly out of keeping
The sacred flame for the Paris Olympics was lit yesterday in Olympia, Greece, the birthplace of the ancient Games, in a ceremony inspired by antiquity and marked by messages of hope amid multiple global crises. “In ancient times, the Olympic Games brought together the Greek city states, even — and in particular — during times of war and conflict,” International Olympic Committee president Thomas Bach said. “Today, the Olympic Games are the only event that brings the entire world together in peaceful competition. Then as now, the Olympic athletes are sending this powerful message — yes, it is possible to compete fiercely