No-calls cost St. Louis in loss to Ottawa

ST. LOUIS -- Antoine Vermette scored a short-handed goal to lift the Ottawa Senators to a 4-2 victory over the St. Louis Blues on Tuesday.

The winning goal came moments after the Blues thought they had taken the lead.

Brad Boyes put the puck in with 16:46 left and moments before play was stopped when Senators goalie Martin Gerber took possession of the puck. Replays showed that the puck went about a foot past the goal line before Gerber pulled it back with his stick and smothered it. The goal light wasn't turned on and the officials didn't look at replays until after play resumed.

According to Rule 78.6, once a game has restarted following a stoppage of play -- in this case when Gerber held onto the puck -- a replay can't award or disallow a goal.

The Blues lost another apparent goal with 2:18 left when officials said David Backes' shot was covered by players. Again, replays showed the puck went over the line and was pulled out by Gerber before the whistle blew.

Mike Fisher and Barret Jackman scored goals for St. Louis.