Blues 5, Islanders 1
ST. LOUIS -- Goals by center Derek Roy, center David Backes and left winger Magnus Paajarvi during a 7:57 span midway through the second period powered the St. Louis Blues to a 5-1 victory over the New York Islanders on Thursday night.
The loss extended the Islanders' winless streak to eight games (0-6-2) and was their eighth consecutive defeat on the road. It was the 10th straight game in which the Islanders allowed three or more goals.
The Blues were able to bounce back from consecutive losses in San Jose and Los Angeles, the first time this season they had gone two games in a row without a point, as they improved their home record to 12-1-2.
Defenseman Jay Bouwmeester gave the Blues a 1-0 lead midway through the first period with the first of St. Louis' three power-play goals. The goal came with just one second left in a minor penalty for interference on the Islanders' Thomas Vanek.
St. Louis now has a record of 16-1-2 when scoring the first goal in a game, 11-0-1 when leading after the first period and 19-1-2 when ahead or tied after the opening period.
The Islanders tied the score 5:19 into the second period on a power-play goal by defenseman Andrew MacDonald. His shot from the point got past goalie Jaroslav Halak, who was screened on the play.
The tie lasted for just 2:17 before Roy's power-play goal ignited the Blues' second-period flurry. Backes followed with his 13th goal, also on the power play, 2:31 later, giving the Blues three goals with only nine shots on goal. It was the second time this season the Blues scored three power-play goals in a game.
Paajarvi's even-strength goal at 14:59 capped the scoring outburst against goalie Anders Nilsson.
Left winger Brenden Morrow scored the Blues' final goal at 13:19 of the third period.
The Islanders' record fell to 0-14-2 when scoring two or fewer goals.
NOTES: The Blues debuted a new fourth line combination. Derek Roy moved to center between LW Magnus Paajarvi and RW Maxim Lapierre, who moved from center to take the place of injured RW Ryan Reaves, out for six weeks with a broken hand. ... Paajarvi was back in the lineup after missing Monday night's game because of the flu. ... D Ian Cole, a healthy scratch on Monday night, also returned to the St. Louis lineup. ... Islanders G Evgeni Nabokov (groin) and D Brian Strait (upper body) have resumed practicing with the team but are said to be at least a week from being ready to play in a game. ... Thursday night's game began a five-game western trip for the Islanders, who will play the Kings in Los Angeles on Saturday night. ... The Blues host Anaheim on Saturday night in their next game.
