Chicago drops a close one in OT against St. Louis 4-3

Jonathan Toews: “We started a little slow tonight and dug ourselves a hole,”

CHICAGO (AP) -Andy McDonald helped the St. Louis Blues end a draining road trip on an up note.

McDonald scored his second goal on a power play 2:15 into overtime to give the St. Louis Blues a 4-3 win over the Chicago Blackhawks on Friday night, ending their trip 1-3-1.

“That was an intense hockey game,” Blues coach Andy Murray said. “I’m exhausted. I don’t think there’s game in this five-game trip we haven’t battled. We were rewarded tonight because we stuck with it.”

With Chicago’s Dave Bolland off for hooking, McDonald fired the winner past Blackhawks goalie Nikolai Khabibulin on a low shot from the right circle.

McDonald, David Perron and Cam Paddock scored in the first period for the Blues, who ended a six-game winless slide (0-5-1). St. Louis’s last victory was on Oct. 25 versus Florida.

“The last road trip I thought we played pretty well and didn’t get the results,” McDonald said. “The guys were pretty emotional.”

Bolland scored his first two goals of the season and assisted on Dustin Byfuglien’s score. Bolland’s second goal, early in the third period, tied the game at 3.

The Blackhawks have not lost in regulation in six games (4-0-2) and remained unbeaten in regulation at home this season (6-0-4). The Blues’ Manny Legace stopped 32 shots. Chicago’s Khabibulin blocked 26.

The Blues pounced on the Blackhawks’ early mistakes and sluggishness to open a 3-1 lead after the first period.

“We started a little slow tonight and dug ourselves a hole,” Chicago captain Jonathan Toews said. “We can’t blame anyone but ourselves for our slow start and the penalties we took.”

Source: more at NHL.com