Blues Bounce Panthers

It was a game where both teams capitalized on turnovers in the defensive zone as the St. Louis Blues beat the Florida Panthers 4-1 on Thursday night. The Blues struck first as David Backes scored an unassisted goal at 6:04. Mike Santorelli tied the game seven minutes later with his own unassisted goal as he made a turnaround shot from the left face-off circle into the top shelf of the cage following a Blues turnover. At 5:48 of the second period, Chris Porter slapped a loose puck from the right circle and St. Louis regained the lead 2-1, again on an unassisted goal. Midway through the third period, the Blues were able to create a two-on-one breakaway when Ed Jovanovski pinched in from the left point. Vladimir Sobotka skated the puck all the way into the Panthers zone and placed a backhand pass from the right circle onto the stick of Kris Russell for a tip-in goal at 9:46. Backes finished things off with his second goal of the game and sixth goal this season with 1:50 left. The Panthers return home to take on the Pittsburgh Penguins Saturday night and begin a four-game homestand. The Penguins will make a game-time decision if Sidney Crosby will return to the lineup and play his first game this season.