Rust Proof

Halak shines in shutout as the Blues show little let down after the longest all-star break in the NHL.

The Blues looked like the same great defensive team that went into the break as they beat Los Angeles 1-0 Friday night. Jamie Langenbrunner scored the lone goal on a great feed from Matt D'Agostini.

That was all the Blues would need as Jaroslav Halak stopped all 22 shots he faced. It was his fifth shutout of the season. Both he and Elliot have five on the season, giving the team ten, tops in the NHL.

That marks the first time that the Blues have had two goalies with at least ten shutouts since Jaques Plante and Glenn Hall did it in 1968-69. They made it to the Stanley Cup Finals that season.

The Blues were weary that the long layoff would cause them to come out a bit rusty, but after firing 12 shots and racking up 15 hits in the first, all worry was gone.

"We started out pretty good actually, but I don't know how that was because I felt terrible," said Matt D'Agostini. "I couldn't skate."

Dags looked good in the second. On a great individual effort, he chipped a puck by a King defender and set up Langenbrunner for the lone score .

The Blues were able to let that goal stand as the winner because of the outstanding play of Halak. He made three world-class left pad saves in the second half of the game. Halak should get the start tonight when the Note face off in Nashville against the Predators.

Highlights:

Halak's Homecoming is Special

Jaroslav Halak went into Montreal Tuesday for another high pressure game, but this time he was playing against the Habs. His reception was a warm one nonetheless.

After all of the media attention, Halak put on a clinic and lead the Blues to a 3-0 shutout victory, not to mention a first place position in the Central Division.

Halak made 19 saves, not overwhelming, but that did included some highlights. None was better than the one he made against Tomas Plekanec just 3:13 into the game. Plekanec was stopped by Halak's quick right leg on a short handed breakaway.

"I tried to put my pad on the ice and thank God I stopped it," Halak told the Post-Dispatch. "It calmed me down."

But that was not the special moment. After sealing the shutout and getting congratulations from his teammates, Halak made his way off the ice while a capacity crowd stood cheering. His teammates would not let him down the tunnel.

"They told me to come out and enjoy the moment, and it was great," Halak said.

Highlights:


Who Gets the Start?

The rule to start the next game after a shutout was waved for Brian Elliott so that Halak could start the special game in Montreal. Elliott was to get the start against the Canucks Thursday night, but who starts now? I say Elliott, and when he gets a shutout then we start Halak after that, owing him his start from Montreal. They can just keep trading shutouts for all Blues fans care!