NEWARK, N.J. _ Of course the Blues would find a cure for their road issues in the only NHL rink yet to see the home team lose in regulation.
The New Jersey Devils were 8-0-2 at Prudential Center before Friday, but the Blues ended that run with a 4-1 victory on goals by two goals from Robby Fabbri and one apiece from Jaden Schwartz and Ryan Reaves. Goaltender Jake Allen, back in net for the second straight night, made 20 saves to win just his fourth road game of the season.
The win was just the Blues' second in their last eight road games. It pulled them to within one point (37-36) of Western Conference leader Chicago, which was still in action Friday, hosting the New York Rangers.
The Blues will take Saturday off before resuming their four-game trip with Central Division matchups Sunday in Minnesota and Tuesday in Nashville.
Despite New Jersey's success at home this season, it should have come as little surprise that the Blues looked comfortable at Prudential Center, where they have now won six of their last seven games. They led the entire way while picking up four goals on 32 shots.
Both clubs were on the ice for the second straight night, with the Blues falling 3-2 to the New York Islanders and the Devils dropping a 5-2 decision in Montreal.
The first goal Friday would be an important one to help push out the opponent, and once again it was Fabbri who provided it for the Blues.
One night after scoring his sixth of the season to break the ice against the Islanders, Fabbri netted his seventh to open a 1-0 lead on New Jersey Friday. This one was set up by a player who wasn't even in uniform the previous game.
Defenseman Brad Hunt, who was recalled Thursday but looked on as a healthy scratch, made his Blues' debut Friday in place of the injured Carl Gunnarsson. Hunt was leading the American Hockey League with 29 points when he was brought up, and he picked up where he left off with an assist on his first shift in the NHL this season.
Hunt entered the offensive zone, paused and passed Fabbri, who ripped a shot past New Jersey goalie Keith Kinkaid, who got the start Friday in place of starter Cory Schneider, just 1:50 into the game.
The Blues killed off a rouging call against Joel Edmundson midway through the first period and then went on their first power play in five periods of play. After going the entire game Thursday without receiving one, which was the first time that's happened this season, the Blues got one in the first period Friday, but couldn't add to their lead.
But they did double it up in the second period on Ryan Reaves' first goal of the season, a spectacular redirection of a point shot by captain Alex Pietrangelo. The fourth-liner went into celebration mode after seeing the puck sail to the back of the net, giving the Blues a 2-0 lead just 5:15 into the middle frame.
The only blemish of the night for the Blues and Allen came 1:21 later on P.A. Parenteau's sixth goal of the season for New Jersey. Former Edmonton Oiler Taylor Hall tried a wraparound attempt and after Allen made a save on Adam Henrique, Parenteau lifted the rebound over him for a 2-1 score with 13:24 left in the second period.
With the Devils threatening, though, they took roughing and tripping penalties 41 seconds apart, putting the Blues on a lengthy 5-on-3 power play. They were methodical with their approach, but squeezed in a goal just before the two-man advantage ended.
There were just six seconds left before New Jersey defenseman Damon Severson exited the penalty box when Alexander Steen sent a slap pass to the left side of the net. Standing there was Schwartz, who knocked in his 11th goal of the season, pulling two behind team-leader Vladimir Tarasenko.
But on a night when Tarasenko would finish with three assists, the scoring race has been between Schwartz and Fabbri lately.
The Blues took 3-1 lead into the third period, and Fabbri added to it with his second of the game, which was his eighth of the season, all of which have come in the last 15 games. Fabbri shook off Parenteau with an elbow and buried a wrist shot past Kinkaid.
In what was a good sign, the Blues kept their foot on the gas, outshooting the Devils 10-1 in the third period at one point. It was more than enough as they improved to 7-4-1 against the Eastern Conference, but more importantly addressed their problems away from home with arguably their best road game of the season.
