Well, the Central Division race tightened up Friday. Sparked by two goals from previously-struggling Vladimir Tarasenko, the visiting Blues defeated division co-leader Winnipeg, 5-2, at Bell MTS Place in Winnipeg, Manitoba.
Tarasenko scored the Blues' first and fourth goals of the night, giving him 23 on the season, helping his club pull to within two points of Winnipeg and Nashville _ who both have 73 points. At 34-20-3, the Blues now have 71. Winnipeg, suffering only its fourth regulation home loss this season, fell to 32-14-9.
Jake Allen was strong in goal for St. Louis, stopping 20 of 22 shots to register his first victory since Dec. 23.
The Jets made things interesting when a Patrik Laine power-play goal at the 11:39 mark cut what once was a 3-0 St. Louis lead to 3-2. But then Tarasenko corralled a rebound off the ends boards and then tucked it in the net behind Jets goalie Connor Hellebuyck at the 12:45 mark to make it 4-2.
With the Jets pressuring on a 6-on-4 power play (having pulled Hellebuyck) Jaden Schwartz added an empty-net goal with three seconds left _ his 17th goal of the season.
Patrik Berglund and Alexander Steen each added a goal for the Blues.
Kyle Connor's second-period goal cut the Jets' deficit to 3-1.
