Stat Trick: Blues 2, Isles 1 (shootout)

TJ Oshie and Brad Boyes scored in the shootout as the Blues defeated the Islanders 2-1 at the Coliseum on Thursday night. It was the first shootout ever between the teams. On to the trick:

1.  Each team scored just once in regulation play.  Matt Moulson had the Islander goal with just ten seconds remaining in the first period.  It was the 24th goal of the season for Moulson, the most by any Islander since four players scored 25 or more in the 2006-07 season.  Moulson's goal came on the first of five Islander power plays in a game that matched the league's next-to-last home power play against the league's best road penalty kill.

2.  Patrik Berglund, who had the winning goal when the teams met in November,  knotted the score 6:24 into the middle session, also on a power play.The goal extended his point streak to a career-high six games.  It was the first of six Blues power plays on the night.  The Isles however killed off the remaining five power plays, improving their penalty kill to 7-18 since the Olympic break.

3. The Blues outshot the Isles 36-30, including 5-2 in the overtime session (despite a full Islander power play in the extra session).

... a few more...

4. The Islanders have allowed a power play goal in all five games since the Olympic break (7-18) and in six straight overall (8-20).  It's the first time this season that the Isles have allowed a power play goal in six straight games.

5. Chris Mason has 29 saves for the Blues, while Martin Biron had 35 saves for the Islanders.  It's the second win of the season for Mason over the Isles; he allowed only two goals in the two games.  Biron is now 2-0-1 in his last three starts; it's the first time this season that he has earned a point in three straight starts. Biron  has never beaten the Blues; he's 0-6-2 against St. Louis.

6. Erik Johnson led the Blues with four shots; Romak Polak was the only Blue held without a shot.  Blake Comeau, playing his first game since being injured last week, led the Isles with five shots on goal and assisted on Moulson's tally.

7. The Isles are now 26-32-9, matching last season's win and point total, with 15 games to play.  The Blues have won six out of seven and are a sparkling 19-10-4 on the road this season.

8. The Isles fall to 12-9 in overtime, including 7-6 in shootouts. Oshie is now 5-for-8 in shootouts while Boyes is 7-for-11. The Blues are 7-4 in shootouts this season, including three wins in their current 6-1 streak.

9. Mark Streit earned an assist on Moulson's goal.  He had four shots on goal and played over 31 mni

10. The Isles are 0-2-0 against the Blues this season, and 4-0-0 against the rest of the Central Division.

Up next: The homestand continues on Saturday when they entertain the Devils.  The Isles are 1-3-0 against New Jersey including 1-1-0 at home. Their most- recent match-up, on Januaury 23rd, was the first game of their current 3-12-1 stretch.
Forever1940 is the nom de plume of Eric Hornick, statistician on Islander home telecasts since 1982. Visit my blog: forever1940.blogspot.com and follow me on Twitter @ehornick