Blues Top Blackhawks 4-1 In 2017 NHL Winter Classic

Vladimir Tarasenko scored two third-period goals to lift the St. Louis Blues to a 4-1 victory over the Chicago Blackhawks in Monday’s 2017 NHL Winter Classic.

Blues Top Blackhawks 4-1 In 2017 NHL Winter Classic

The game, which was marked by rainy weather, was held at Busch Stadium, home of the St. Louis Cardinals.

The Blackhawks have now lost five of their last six games, and their record in outdoor games has dropped to 1-4-0.

Just 1:02 into the contest, a shot from the point by Blackhawks defenseman Michal Kempny bounced about 10 feet in front of Blues goalie Jake Allen, took a strange hop and found a way past Allen for an early Chicago lead.

It was Kempny’s second goal in back-to-back games. It was also one of the fastest goals in Winter Classic history, per NHL Public Relations:

Then the Blues tied it 1-1 with 12:15 remaining in the second period. Patrik Berglund took a great pass from Jay Bouwmeester, who was behind the net at the time. After receiving the puck in front of Corey Crawford’s goal, Berglund beat him with a one-time shot.

Tarasenko had two major opportunities to put his team ahead within the first six minutes of the third period before his two-goal outburst. First, he found himself on a breakaway, but Crawford blocked his quick wrister. Crawford finished with 31 saves.

Moments later, Tarasenko fired a tough-angled shot from the left of Crawford’s net that ricocheted off the post and veered clear from danger.

He finally beat Crawford with 7:55 left in the game off an odd-man rush. After taking a pass to the right of Crawford’s goal, Tarasenko skated to another difficult angle while on the backhand, thus making it almost impossible to get a shot off.

Instead, the 25-year-old Russian right winger attempted to center it toward the front of Crawford, although it bounced off Blackhawks defenseman Niklas Hjalmarsson’s skate and into the back of the net.

Just 1:53 later, Tarasenko beat Crawford again, though without any luck.  The youngster fired a wrist-shot under Crawford’s arm and tucked his shot just inside the right post.

Everyone at Busch Stadium and elsewhere was amazed with Tarasenko. Even Hjalmarsson praised the Russian for his skill: “He’s one of the few guys in the league who has a shot that’s more than above average,” he said of Tarasenko.

In an attempt to make a comeback, the Blackhawks pulled Crawford for an extra skater with 3:10 remaining. However, it was Alex Steen who ultimately sealed the game with an empty-net goal with 1:14 to go.

Entering Monday, the Blues trailed the Blackhawks by eight points with two games at hand in the Western Conference Central Division. The win brought them within six points despite having played two fewer games. It will keep St. Louis in the thick of the hunt for a top spot in the West.

ST. LOUIS, MO – JANUARY 2: Corey Crawford #50 of the Chicago Blackhawks makes a save against Paul Stastny #26 of the St. Louis Blues during the 2017 Bridgestone NHL Winter Classic at Busch Stadium on January 2, 2017 in St. Louis, Missouri. (Photo by Dilip Vishwanat/Getty Images)