Shorthanded Blues find a way to win at Philadelphia

PHILADELPHIA -- The Blues keep losing players. They also keep winning.

Already without Keith Tkachuk and losing Doug Weight midway through the second period, St. Louis got first-period goals from Martin Rucinsky and Al MacInnis and beat Philadelphia 3-1 Saturday.

Tkachuk is at home because of personal matters, and Weight injured his left thumb after taking a slap shot on the hand. Both are day-to-day.

"We just keep on battling," said Fred Brathwaite, who saved 24 shots. "We have lost some players this year, and every time the team steps up."

The Blues, who are 7-0-1 against the Eastern Conference this season, pulled within a point of first-place Detroit in the Central Division. The Blues face the Stanley Cup champion Red Wings tonight.

Philadelphia has won just once in its last eight home games. The Flyers have gone a franchise-record 16 straight games without scoring more than three goals.

"Collectively, we're a better team offensively than we're performing," said Philadelphia's Keith Primeau, who needed stitches between the eyes after being hit by a stick. "We need better contributions from a lot of people."

Rucinsky made it 1-0 just 1:27 into the game after he picked up a turnover at the blue line and went in on Flyers goalie Roman Cechmanek. His forehand shot beat Cechmanek high on his stick side.

MacInnis's goal came on a power play as he sent a slap shot from the point that glanced off defenseman Eric Weinrich and past Cechmanek.

"Getting the lead early certainly helped," Blues coach Joel Quenneville said. "We were able to get into a checking mode and play a much simpler game."

The Blues had a goal disallowed in the second period. Scott Mellanby's tip-in of a slap shot by Rucinsky on a delayed penalty was waved off because St. Louis' extra attacker came on before Brathwaite reached the bench.

Pavol Demitra added an empty-net goal with 0.6 seconds left.

Philadelphia's lone goal came early in the third when Jeremy Roenick slid the rebound of a shot by Simon Gagne under the pads of Brathwaite.

The Flyers were unable to score in the second period despite outshooting the Blues 9-2. Philadelphia also had a four-minute power play in the second, with Mark Recchi having the best chance but lifting a shot over the net.

"Once they got that lead, they were able to sit on it for the second period," Flyers coach Ken Hitchcock said.

Noteworthy

Rucinsky's goal was his first in 15 games.

Roenick had a scary moment in the first period when his knee slammed into the open door of the Blues' bench. He was on the ice for a while before gingerly skating off.

The Blues are 9-0-0-1 when leading after two periods.

St. Louis is 2-8-1 in its last 11 trips to Philadelphia.