Berglund's OT winner leads Blues past Blackhawks
EditorsNote: rewords eighth graf
Patrik Berglund scored at 3:31 of overtime Sunday night, lifting the visiting St. Louis Blues to a 5-4 win over the Chicago Blackhawks at the United Center.
Berglund’s 10th goal came on a slapper from atop the right circle that somehow squeezed between the pads of goalie Jean-Francois Berube. With 83 points, St. Louis sits within a point of the final playoff spot in the Western Conference.
St. Louis forced overtime when defenseman Alex Pietrangelo scored his career-high 15th goal at 18:38 of the third period, mere seconds after goalie Jake Allen was lifted for a sixth attacker.
Pietrangelo and defense partner Vince Dunn each finished with a goal and three assists, making up for the loss of forward Vladimir Tarasenko, who didn’t play after sustaining an upper-body injury Saturday night.
Wasted in the loss for the Blackhawks was a hat trick by Alex DeBrincat, the third of his rookie season.
Chicago came out of the gates flying, establishing a 2-0 lead after one period thanks to DeBrincat. He initiated scoring at 13:07 on the power play, wiring a wrister past Allen from the right circle.
DeBrincat made it 2-0 at 19:08, setting up at the right post and tapping the rebound of his initial missed shot off Allen and over the goal line.
The Blues responded by oiling up a power play that was 1-for-16 coming into the game. Dunn’s point blast was deflected by Alexander Steen for Steen’s 14th goal at 2:02 of the middle period, and he rifled another slapper that hit nothing but the back of the net at 5:14 for his fifth tally.
The Blackhawks regained the lead with a surprising goal from David Kampf at 19:58. Vinnie Hinostroza did the heavy lifting, winning a race to the puck in the right corner, then slipping a pass to the goalmouth that Kampf tapped in for his fourth marker.
Vladimir Sobotka evened the score at 3 with his 11th goal at 15:24 of the third period, floating to the right post unmarked and then shoveling in a rebound.
However, DeBrincat inspired a shower of hats with his 25th goal at 16:47, taking Artem Anisimov’s pass in the slot and roofing a wrister over Allen’s blocker.
Allen saved 26 shots, and Berube stopped 36 in the loss.
—Field Level Media