The No Goal Blues

(Photo: Gary A. Vasquez, USA TODAY Sports)

The St. Louis Blues were shut out for the second time in a row, and haven’t been able to score since returning from the Olympic break. The number one ranked Anaheim Ducks defeated the number two ranked St. Louis Blues 1 to 0.

The Blues did not give up, they fought hard throughout the whole game trying to break their two game scoring drought. It was a very physical game, with David Backes and Corey Perry at the heart of most of the battles.  The game held the first hints of a possible playoff series to come, and held on to a playoff level pace and intensity.

Brian Elliot stepped in net for the Blues and stopped 18 of 19 shots. The lone goal of the game came 3:39 in the first period by Anaheim’s Andrew Cogliano #18, with a forehand backhand move that beat Elliot, assisted by Saku Koivu #14, and Cam Fowler #26. The Blues had plenty of chances to score and had a total of 18 shots on net but could never find a way to ignite the goal light.

This was a preview of two strong Western Conference teams that will not meet again, unless they meet in the playoffs. These two power houses could very well be on a collision course for the playoffs and we could see more of this heated west coast rivalry.

The Blues finish their current series of west coast games in Phoenix on Sunday at 8PM (ET) against the Phoenix Coyotes, where they are expected to meet new players Ryan Miller and Steve Ott, recently acquired in a trade with the Buffalo Sabres