Blues' point streak continues with 5-2 win over Devils
ST. LOUIS -- Blues forward Patrik Berglund is not at full strength. Not just yet.
The New Jersey Devils might not be convinced.
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Berglund scored twice, including the go-ahead goal in the second period, and Ty Rattie netted his first NHL goal to lead St. Louis to a 5-2 win over the Devils on Tuesday night.
Scottie Upshall and David Backes also scored for St. Louis, which converted on its first two power-play attempts. The Blues won in regulation for the first time since Dec. 22.
St. Louis also won its fifth in a row against New Jersey, which lost for the fourth time in five games.
"I'm almost there," Berglund said. "Not all the way, but pretty close."
Berglund returned to the lineup Jan. 2 after missing the first 40 games of the season with a shoulder injury. He underwent surgery in late August.
It was the 10th multigoal game of Berglund's career and first since April 3 last season.
"He's played really well," St. Louis coach Ken Hitchcock said. "With a player coming back, you're always worried that he might hit a wall. But now he's punched through it."
Brian Elliott made 22 saves and earned his second successive win after taking over for Jake Allen, who is out with a knee injury.
Elliott, who improved to 7-4-4, is happy to see Berglund back in the lineup and contributing on a regular basis.
"It was awesome to see him score twice," Elliott said. "He's still got that spring in his legs. Hopefully, he can keep that up the rest of the season."
Berglund has three goals and an assist since his return.
Lee Stempniak and Bobby Farnham scored for New Jersey. Backup goalie Keith Kinkaid made 32 saves but fell to 3-5. He was making his eighth start of the season.
"It was a good first two periods," Kinkaid said. "They came out strong in the third and penalty trouble really didn't help us."
Berglund tipped in a shot from Alex Pietrangelo with 2:46 left in the second period to break a 2-all tie.
"I was just in the right place at the right time -- twice," Berglund said.
Rattie deflected a shot from Kevin Shattenkirk early in the third to make it 4-2. Backes added an empty-net goal with 36 seconds left.
"It's an indescribable feeling," Rattie said about his first goal. "Of all the goals in my life, this jumps up to No. 1."
The Devils scored twice in a 2:35 span in the second period to go ahead 2-1.
Berglund gave the Blues a 1-0 lead by converting off a scramble in front midway through the opening period.
"We were good for the first two periods," New Jersey coach John Hynes said. "But when the game was tight in the third period, we have to have a little bit more resolve to get ourselves back in there."
The Devils' last victory in St. Louis was a 4-3 triumph on Dec. 30, 2008.
New Jersey center Joseph Blandisi picked up his first NHL point with an assist on Stempniak's goal.
"We just let the game go," Blandisi said. "They beat us on special teams tonight. Once they got the lead, we couldn't quite come back."
NOTES: Hitchcock earned his 200th win with the Blues. ... The crowd took up a derisive chant aimed at Rams owner Stan Kroenke on several occasions in the third period after news spread about the football team moving to Los Angeles. ... New Jersey LW Mike Cammalleri missed his sixth consecutive game with an upper-body injury. ... Allen was injured Friday against Anaheim. He is expected to miss at least two weeks. Jordan Binnington was recalled from the Chicago Wolves of the AHL to serve as Elliott's backup. ... The Blues played the first of five successive games against Eastern Conference foes. ... The Blues' previous four games all went to overtime, trying a franchise record. ... The Blues went six straight games without a third-period goal before Rattie scored at 2:21. ... New Jersey went 17:07 without a shot during the second and third periods.
