After scoring just seven goals in their previous six games, the Blues came up with seven in one afternoon Saturday at the Staples Center in Los Angeles.
For the first time all season, the Blues got goals from three separate defensemen in one game _ Robert Bortuzzo, Colton Parayko and Alex Pietrangelo.
In order, Ivan Barbashev, Vladimir Tarasenko, Kyle Brodziak and Jaden Schwartz also lit the lamp in a much-needed 7-2 victory over the Los Angeles Kings.
For Tarasenko, it was his team-leading 27th goal of the season; for Schwartz, it was his 20th _ giving him 20 goals or more in three seasons.
"It was nice for our group to score some goals," Blues coach Mike Yeo told reporters in Los Angeles afterwards. "Hopefully that builds some confidence in some players in our group and our team. And Jake (Allen) _ finally nice to get some goals for him, so obviously a good afternoon here."
It marked only the second time this season the Blues had scored seven goals or more in a game _ they got eight in an 8-3 victory over Edmonton on Nov. 21. All this against a Kings team that entered the game ranked second in the NHL in goals allowed per game at 2.48.
With only one victory in their previous 10 games, the Blues improved to 36-27-5, good for 77 points. LA fell to 37-26-5, for 79 points. In the ever-changing wild-card picture in the Western Conference, the Blues are three points behind Colorado for the second and last wild-card berth.
Allen, getting his second consecutive start with Carter Hutton sidelined with a neck injury, was strong again in the nets. Getting only his second victory since before Christmas, Allen has stopped 72 of 75 shots he's faced over his past two starts.
