Blues hit Blackhawks for first win of season

ST. LOUIS -- Jay McClement posted his first NHL goal in the unlikeliest of ways.

McClement scored on a penalty shot and added an assist Tuesday night as the St. Louis Blues beat the Chicago Blackhawks 4-1 to end their season-opening, three-game losing streak.

"It's nice to get that and to get the win," McClement said. "It's a little different atmosphere in here. I think there's a little relief. We'll just try to forget the first three and move on from here."

Midway through the first period, McClement was tripped by Jaroslav Spacek as he broke in alone on Nikolai Khabibulin. Referee Mick McGeough awarded McClement a penalty shot, and he scored on a wrist shot just inside the left post to make it 2-0 at 10:58.

"I tried not to think too much about it," McClement said. "I was just concentrating on not losing it as I came in, and kind of let my hockey sense take over."

Patrick Lalime, acquired by the Blues from Ottawa before the NHL lockout, rebounded from a slow start and made 32 saves in his first victory. Lalime entered with an 0-3 record and a 6.00 goals-against average.

"We had our chances," Chicago coach Trent Yawney said. "Their goalie played very well. If he had just an average night, it's probably a different game."

Lalime said he didn't mind the heavy work load.

"The shots don't mean so much," he said. "It's the scoring chances that count. I thought we did a lot better job in our end than we did Saturday (against San Jose)."

Dean McAmmond, Scott Young and Dallas Drake also scored for St. Louis. Mike Sillinger had two assists, giving him 400 career points.

Tyler Arnason scored the only goal for Chicago, which began a four-game road trip.

St. Louis, which had been the only Western Conference team without a win, started off strong in this one. Just 20 seconds in, Sillinger centered the puck to McAmmond in the left circle, and he flipped a shot over Khabibulin's left shoulder.

After McClement gave the Blues a two-goal lead with his penalty shot, Young scored on a wrist shot at 17:51 of the first period to make it 3-0. Drake extended the advantage to four goals at 1:19 of the third period.

The Blues blew a two-goal, third-period lead Saturday night against San Jose and were determined not to let it happen again.

"We talked that we had sat back too much in that game, and we were determined to just keep playing," Lalime said. "We did a good job of dumping the puck and forechecking."

Arnason ruined Lalime's shutout bid when he scored his second of the season, a power-play goal, with 7:43 left.

Despite the loss, Yawney was upbeat.

"It was our best game of the year by a lot," he said. "It depends what your definition of success is. You've got to remember where we've been and where we're going. But it was a good start."

Notes: Blues D Barret Jackman, who sat out the first three games with a shoulder injury, made his season debut. ... Chicago captain Adrian Aucoin missed his second straight game because of a groin strain. ... McClement's goal was the first successful penalty shot for the Blues since February 26, 2001, when Marty Reasoner scored against San Jose.