ST. LOUIS _ They're not there yet, but the Blues are on so on the verge of the playoffs.
Goals by Ivan Barbashev, Ryan O'Reilly and Zach Sanford, plus tenacious defense and more sturdy goaltending by Jordan Binnington, gave the Blues a 3-1 victory over the previously red-hot Vegas Golden Knights on Monday at Enterprise Center.
Winning all four games on their now-completed homestand, the Blues improved to 41-27-8, for 90 points. Vegas, which had won 10 of 12 (10-1-1) entering Monday's game, fell to 42-28-6, also for 90 points.
Zach Sanford provided the cushion in the third period with his eighth goal of the season at the 6:27 mark of the third period, giving the Blues a 3-1 lead.
Robert Bortuzzo's shot from right wing rebounded off Sanford's chest. Knocked off his feet by Vegas defenseman Colin Miller, Sanford was able to gather himself to poke the puck past Golden Knights goalie Malcolm Subban while on his knees.
The score ended a goal drought at 15 games for Sanford, who's play has picked up lately.
