Blues defeat Avalanche 3-1 in preseason

ST. LOUIS -- T.J. Oshie scored a tiebreaking power-play in the third period and the St. Louis Blues beat the Colorado Avalanche 3-1 in a preseason game Thursday night.

David Backes and Patrik Berglund also scored goals and Andy McDonald had two assists for the Blues, who have won five of seven games.

Joakim Lindstrom scored for Colorado, which has dropped three of four.

Ben Bishop stopped 18 shots for St. Louis, and the Avalanche's Jean-Sebastien Giguere finished with 29 saves.

Oshie beat Giguere when McDonald's shot came off the back boards to the other side of the net 9 minutes into the third period.

Berglund scored 3 1/2 minutes later on a shot through Giguere's pads from the left circle for a two-goal advantage.

Backes gave St. Louis a 1-0 lead when he took a rebound from McDonald's backhand shot and sent it past Giguere with 2:32 left in the second period.

Lindstrom tied it 1:42 into the third period on a one-timer from the right circle, beating Bishop.

-- Associated Press