Hurricanes 4, Blues 1

Don't look now, but the Carolina Hurricanes are presently tied with the Boston Bruins (three games in hand) and the New Jersey Devils with 47 points and are just percentage points out of the final playoff spot in the East.   The Canes went into St. Louis with a purpose and easily defeated the Blues, 4-1 at Scottrade Center on Thursday night.

The win was Carolina's fourth in a row and now the team is 7-2-2 in their last 11 games.

After a tightly checked and scoreless first period, the Canes took it to the home team in the second.

Jeff Skinner lit the lamp first when he put back the rebound of an Andrej Nestrasil shot early in the second period.  Nestrasil made a pretty play at center ice when he stole the puck and skated it in the Blues' zone for a shot.  It was Skinner's 17th goal of the season.

Carolina outshot St. Louis 15-5 in that period but could not solve goalie Brian Elliott again until the third.

Brett Pesce notched a powerplay goal with a wicked shot just 3:32 into the third and Brock McGinn made it 3-0 with a snapper from the slot area right after a faceoff win, less than four minutes later.

Eddie Lack played a solid game but lost his shutout bid at 7:33 into the third.  For the game he stopped 23 of 24 St. Louis shots.

Riley Nash beat new goalie Jordan Binnington on a breakaway to close out the scoring.

The Canes flew home right after the game and will face the Vancouver Canucks at the PNC Friday night which will be the second of a back-to-back for both teams.  The Canucks lost to the Caps, 4-1 on Thursday night.

Game Notes:

• The Canes led the Blues in shots on goal, 28-24 for the game.  Skinner led the way with four.  The team also had a total of 60 shot attempts to 35 for the opposition.
• Ron Hainsey and Justin Faulk led the way with 25:09 and 25:07 of ice time.
• The powerplay clicked and went 1-3 while the penalty kill was perfect, allowing 0-4.
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