Backes scores, fights in leading Blues to 3-0 win over Stars
ST. LOUIS -- David Backes had a goal and an assist, Jake Allen stopped 26 shots for his fourth shutout of the season, and the St. Louis Blues beat the Dallas Stars 3-0 on Saturday night.
Vladimir Tarasenko and Ryan Reaves scored in the third period to help the Blues beat the Stars for the third consecutive time. It also ended St. Louis' four-game losing streak at home to Dallas dating back to Nov. 23, 2013.
Backes also got into a fight with Stars forward Jammie Benn in the first period, earning the Gordie Howe hat trick -- a goal, assist and fight.
Antti Niemi stopped 23 of 26 shots for the Stars, but fell to 9-9 in his career against the Blues.
The loss also snapped a nine-game point road streak for the Stars in which they went 7-0-2. Dallas (22-6-2) still has a league-best 46 points.
The Blues, at 17-8-4, are second behind the Stars in the Central Division with 38 points.
Allen improved to 2-1 in his career against the Stars and got his ninth career shutout.
Backes' power play goal at 2:00 in the first period gave the Blues a 1-0 lead. It was Backes' 53rd career power play goal, which moved him out of a ninth-place tie with Brendan Shanahan for most in franchise history.
The first period ended with a pair of fights, with the first bout between the teams' two captains -- Backes and Benn.
One minute later, Blues defenseman Petteri Lindbohm fought Stars forward Antoine Roussel after Lindbohm took exception to a hit Roussel made on Dmitrij Jaskin along the boards.
The Blues put the game away on third-period goals from Tarasenko and Reaves.
The Blues killed all three of the Stars' power plays. St. Louis has been successful in 16 straight penalty kills and hasn't given up a power play goal in seven games.
NOTES: The Blues honored its past and current captains before the game. Among those honored were Eric Brewer, Al MacInnis, Brett Hull, Garth Butcher, Rick Meagher, Bernie Federko, Barry Gibbs, Bob Plager, Frank St. Marseille, Garry Unger, Backes and the late Barclay Plager who was represented by his wife Helen. ... Blues D Kevin Shattenkirk's assist on Backes' goal was his 16th career helper against the Stars, the most by any Dallas opponent. ... Benn has 399 career points for the Stars.
