Vladimir Tarasenko Leads Blues To 5-2 Win Over Blackhawks In Opener

Vladimir Tarasenko proved to be too dominant a force against the Chicago Blackhawks yet again.

Vladimir Tarasenko Leads Blues To 5-2 Win Over Blackhawks In Opener

Tarasenko scored two goals and had one assist in leading the St. Louis Blues to a 5-2 road victory over the Blackhawks in each team’s season opener on Wednesday night.

Including the Stanley Cup Playoffs, Tarasenko had 10 goals the past two seasons against Chicago. Paul Stastny and Kevin Shattenkirk each had a goal and two assists for St. Louis.

“He’s proven to be a big-time player, and obviously these games mean so much to us,” Shattenkirk said of Tarasenko. “He’s a guy who’s so dangerous. We seem to just find him a little more often than usual against these guys and he makes them pay the price.”

The Blues eliminated the Blackhawks in seven games in the first round of the playoffs in April. Jake Allen made 17 saves for the Blues in his first game since he was given the lead goalkeeping job with Brian Elliott’s June trade to Calgary.

St. Louis went 3 for 5 on the power play.

Richard Panik and rookie Ryan Hartman scored for the Blackhawks.

Four Chicago penalties in the second period led to three St. Louis power-play goals. Shattenkirk tied it 1-1 at 4:52, Tarasenko made it 2-2 at 19:28, and Stastny made it 3-2 55 seconds into the third period.

Tarasenko scored his second goal into an empty net at 18:54, and Scottie Upshall netted the final goal of the game, which the Blackhawks scored into their own net at 19:41.

”The guys that have been around did a number today,” Blues coach Ken Hitchcock said. ”The guys that have been here before and know what it’s like to play in this building, know what it’s like to play against Chicago, they played really well today.”

Shattenkirk’s goal came after Blackhawks defenseman Trevor van Riemsdyk was sent to the penalty box. Chicago centers Jonathan Toews and Artem Anisimov were then called for minor penalties 37 seconds apart late in the second to create the first 5-on-3, which Tarasenko ended with his goal.

Chicago defenseman Duncan Keith was called for high-sticking during that play to create a second 5-on-3. Stastny’s goal came with Keith in the box.

“It makes it a lot harder in a hockey game,” said Blackhawks goalie Corey Crawford, who made 29 saves. “[Penalties] gave them momentum. We were in a good spot there before a couple of power plays in the second. They got two quick ones and that was pretty much the game.”

Crawford was sharp beginning the second period to help keep a 1-0 lead. He made three saves in a three-second span almost a minute into the period, denying St. Louis a goal following a turnover by Panik in the defensive zone. All three saves were off shots from close range, including the first two by David Perron.

Right winger Nail Yakupov played 10 1/2 minutes for the Blues. He was acquired in a trade with Edmonton on Friday.

Blackhawks defenseman Niklas Hjalmarsson served the final game of a three-game suspension for an illegal hit during the preseason against Blues forward Ty Rattie.

The Blues will next host the Minnesota Wild on Thursday night, while the Blackhawks will visit Nashville on Friday and then host the Predators on Saturday night.

SAN JOSE, CA – MAY 21: Vladimir Tarasenko #91 of the St. Louis Blues in action in game four of the Western Conference Finals against the San Jose Sharks during the 2016 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at HP Pavilion on May 21, 2016 in San Jose, California. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)