DENVER _ The Blues survived a wild _ no make that bizarre _ third period, holding off the Colorado Avalanche, 4-3, to boost their Central Division-leading record to 6-2 Thursday at the Pepsi Center.
The Avalanche scored two third-period goals into an empty net _ once when Blues goalie Carter Hutton was trapped under defenseman Robert Bortuzzo, and once when a bad hop off the end boards caught Hutton roaming too far from the net.
Then, what appeared to be a game-tying Colorado goal with less than four minutes to play was disallowed after a review because the Avalanche were (clearly) offside.
The Blues then withstood an onslaught of Colorado offensive pressure in the final minutes to win their second set of back-to-back games for the second time this season.
Bortuzzo made amends by scoring the game-winner earlier in the third period, his first goal of the season and his first goal in 40 games.
The second period started like the first _ with the Blues dominating, getting the first nine shots of the period.
Only this time the Blues had something to show for their efforts. Just 39 seconds into the period, Paul Stastny capped a 3-on-1 break skating in on right wing with his third goal of the season and the 600th point of his NHL career.
Stastny, who has spent the bulk of his career with Colorado _ 538 games worth _ is the 36th active NHL player with 600 or more points.
Later in the period Jaden Schwartz and Vince Dunn scored just 58 seconds apart to give the Blues a 3-1 lead after two periods at the Pepsi Center.
The Blues came out flying to start the game, outshooting the Avalanche 6-0 in the first five minutes. Vladimir Sobotka, Alexander Steen, Colton Parayko and Magnus Paarjarvi all had good chances against Jonathan Bernier, Colorado's backup goalie.
But it was the Avalanche who scored first on a furious power play following a questionable tripping penalty called against Alex Pietrangelo. In 75 seconds on the power play, the Avalanche launched seven shots on goalie Hutton _ most from in close. On the seventh shot, Alexander Kerfoot scored on a rebound to give Colorado a 1-0 lead at 13:40 of the period.
The Blues gave up two late power play goals to Chicago on Wednesday night. The Avalanche outshot the Blues 16-8 in the period, meaning they outshot St. Louis 16-2 after the Blues' opening flurry in taking a 1-0 lead into the second period.
