ST. LOUIS _ In a game with major playoff implications, the Blues may have had the better play but not the better scoring in a 4-1 loss to Colorado at Scottrade Center that was a serious setback to the Blues' postseason chances.
The Blues could have moved within a point of Colorado for the second wild-card spot with a win, but instead are now four points back with 12 games to play.
In a play that may sum up the Blues' season, Vladimir Tarasenko had a chance to cut the lead to 3-2 early in third period, but his shot at an open net from just outside the crease went high and wide, much to the shock of the arena goal-horn operator, who had already sounded it.
Colorado went up 2-0 in the first period and the Blues cut it to 2-1 on a goal by Joel Edmundson, returning to the lineup after missing five weeks with a broken forearm, and they were all over Colorado, but couldn't score. And then the game went the other way, as a long pass from Gabriel Landeskog to Mikko Rantanen while the Blues made a line change sprung him in alone on Jake Allen for the insurance goal. Colorado scored an empty-net goal with 41 seconds left to seal matters.
The Blues outshot Colorado 45-22 (matching their season high) and missed 22 shots, one of their highest totals for the season. They were 0-2 on the power play, the sixth straight game they didn't score with a man advantage.
While the Blues are still alive in the wild-card race, they have their work cut out for them, likely having to win at least eight of their remaining 12 games. One thing that happened with the loss is the Blues are no longer chasing Colorado for the last wild-card spot. The win jumped Colorado over Dallas in the standings, and Dallas now holds on to the final wild-card spot.
The Blues play the New York Rangers on Saturday at Scottrade Center and Chicago on Sunday on the road. It's a rare two-game run for the Blues against teams not in the playoff race.
