Halak Sets Blues All-Time Shutout Record in 7-0 Route of Panthers

If there was a memo sent out Saturday about playing a game of hockey, then the Florida Panthers must not have gotten it. The Blues netted goals from 7 different players as they beat the Florida Panthers 7-0 Saturday night at Scottrade Center.

The Blues and Panthers both came in to Saturday evening with a record of 1-0 on the early NHL season. It took until 13:58 in to the first period for either team to score as Brendan Morrow scored his first goal as a Blue on a rebound from a Derek Roy shot. After the first period it was a competitive 1-0 lead for the Blues.

The flood gates opened in the second period when Vladimir Tarasenko scored his first goal of the season at 12:31 on a pass from Jaden Schwartz. Schwartz would  get in on the action with a goal himself just a few minutes later on a sharp wrist shot on a pass from Vladimir Sobotka getting his first goal of the season. Just over a minute later another new St. Louis Blues' player, Derek Roy, would add to the scoring on a pass from Chris Stewart to give the Blues a 4-0 lead. 

The second period was just about over when Alex Steen was tripped up on a breakaway, which resulted in a penalty shot. Steen came in on Tim Thomas, the Florida Panthers offseason pickup in goal, and scored on him with a forehand backhand shot to give the Blues a 5-0 lead. The second period would end with the Blues having a commanding lead over the Panthers 5-0. 

The Florida Panthers started the third period with goalie Jacob Markstrom in goal. It was the second game in a row that the Blues opposition had to replace goalies. It happened just Thursday night against Nashville when Predators goalie Pekka Rinne was replaced in the first period by goaltender Carter Hutton.

The Blues would add two more goals in the third period from Ryan Reaves who roofed a wrist shot in a narrow space over Markstrom's shoulder to put the Blues up 6-0, and finally Patrik Berglund would score his first goal of the season on a pass from Tarasenko to give the Blues a 7-0 lead.

Halfway through the third period the physicality picked up. Brendan Morrow laid a heavy hit on defenseman Mike Weaver, resulted in a confrontation a few minutes later by Panther player Krys Barch on the face-off. This caused Chris Stewart to get involved. No punches were thrown, but both men got 10-minute game misconducts. On the very next face-off, Ryan Reaves began shoving the winger he was matched up to, and he received a 10-minute game misconduct. 

The period resumed with a bit more pushing and shoving as the game came to an end. Jaden Schwartz who had a goal and 2 assists got in on the mix as he dropped the gloves with winger Kris Versteeg, thus completing the Gordie Howe hat-trick with a goal, assist and a fight.

With the shutout, Jaroslav Halak made history with the Blues as he passed Glenn Hall on the all-time Blues' shutout list as he got his 17th shutout with the St. Louis Blues, and was named the first star of the game. 

The Blues played far better with the lead than they did against Nashville on opening night. They never seemed to let up, and their penalty kill was superb as they killed off all 7 Panther power-plays.

The Blues will have a huge matchup on wednesday as they take on division rival Chicago Blackhawks who are currently 1-0-1 after a shootout loss on saturday to the Tampa Bay Lightning. The Blues were 2-3-0 against the Stanley Cup champions last year.

The game against the Blackhawks is wednesday at 7pm at Scottrade Center and can be seen on the NBC Sports Network or heard on 1120KMOX.