Blues win 6th straight, beat Devils 1-0

NEWARK, N.J. (AP) -- Red-hot Vladimir Tarasenko scored a power-play goal early in the third period and the St. Louis Blues extended their winning streak to six games with a 1-0 victory over the New Jersey Devils on Tuesday night.

Jake Allen stopped 26 shots in earning his second straight shutout and ending the Devils' two-game winning streak.

The NHL's No. 1 star last week, Tarasenko has seven goals in last five games and the deciding tally for two straight games. He netted the clinching shootout goal against the New York Rangers on Monday.

His blast from the right circle at 4:55 was the difference against the Devils. Tarasenko netted his eighth of the season goal just 17 seconds after Devils defenseman Marek Zidlicky was whistled for holding Alexander Steen in the crease.

The Blues barely kept the puck in the New Jersey zone, and then Tarasenko and Jori Lehtera exchanged a couple of passes before the Russian ripped a shot past Cory Schneider, the only one of 23 he didn't stop.

The Blues' winning streak is one shy of the NHL-high of seven this season set by Anaheim.

Allen, who shut out Anaheim 2-0 in his last start on Oct. 30, had two good stops on Travis Zajac and one on Adam Henrique in the second period. He got his glove on Michael Ryder's shot drive in the first, with the puck landing on top of the net.

Schneider had stopped Tarasenko on a breakaway in the first after a giveaway by Devils rookie Damon Severson. Blues defenseman Ian Cole and Tarasenko also hit goal posts with drives.

The Devils came into the game with the NHL's third-best power play, converting at 26.3 percent, but they went 0-for-3. The Blues also had three chances, and converted the one they needed.

NOTES: The Blues played without C Paul Stastny (shoulder) and RW T.J. Oshie (concussion). Stastny has missed eight straight, and Oshie has sat out four. ... Devils D Jon Merrill was out with an undisclosed injury. ... The Blues and Devils will play again on Thursday in St. Louis. ... Devils LW Mike Cammalleri (jaw) missed his fourth straight game. ... New Jersey's Jaromir Jagr played in his 1,485th NHL game, moving him into sole possession of 18th place on the career list, one ahead of Rod Brind'Amour.

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