Halak Leads Surging Blues Past Stars 1-0
ST. LOUIS (AP) – Jaroslav Halak made 22 saves for his third shutout of the season and T.J. Oshie scored midway through the third period as the surging St. Louis Blues stayed unbeaten in 2012 by defeating the Dallas Stars 1-0 on Monday night.
The Blues have earned 13 out of a possible 14 points this month (6-0-1) and are tied with the New York Rangers and Chicago Blackhawks atop the NHL standings with 60 points. St. Louis improved to 19-3-3 at the Scottrade Center and set a single-season club record by earning at least a point at home for the 13th straight game.
Halak, who has 19 career shutouts, has been a big part of that streak, going 9-0-3 in his last 12 starts.
Dallas lost for only the second time when allowing two or fewer goals (20-2-0). The Stars were blanked 1-0 by the Los Angeles Kings on Oct. 22.
Stars goalie Kari Lehtonen (31 saves) was the hard-luck loser. In 10 career starts against St. Louis, Lehtonen has yet to allow more than two goals.
Lehtonen frustrated the Blues again for more than 50 minutes Monday before Oshie and David Perron broke into the offensive zone and executed a perfect give-and-go. Oshie got the puck back in the slot and deked Lehtonen out of position before sliding the puck into the net. Oshie's goal at 11:26 of the third period was his 14th.
(Copyright 2012 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
