Steen, Elliott lead Blues past Flames

ST. LOUIS -- Another game, another goal for Alexander Steen.

Steen scored his NHL-leading 14th goal in 14 games, Brian Elliott stopped 18 shots for his 100th career win, and the St. Louis Blues beat the Calgary Flames 3-2 Thursday night.

St. Louis has won five of six and is 6-1-1 at home. Calgary has lost four of five and eight of 11.

Maxim Lapierre and Vladimir Tarasenko also scored for St. Louis.

Elliott, who got the start in place of Jaroslav Halak, improved to 2-0-1 with his second straight strong performance. He stopped 31 shots in a 4-0 win at Florida on Nov. 1.

The Blues’ Patrik Berglund, right, and the Flames’ Mike Cammalleri chase a loose puck during the second period Thursday in St. Louis. The Blues won 3-2. (Jeff Roberson ~ Associated Press)

Steen has a point in a career-best nine games in a row. He has scored in all but two contests this season.

Despite his sizzling pace, Steen remains focused on the Blues' quick 10-2-2 start and not his individual run.

"I don't really analyze myself that way," Steen said. "You don't think about that or you'll start focusing on the wrong things."

Steen converted on a backhand from the slot in the second period to push the lead to 3-0.

"He works his butt off, and it's nice to see him get rewarded," St. Louis defenseman Jordan Leopold said. "Whatever he's doing, he's got to keep doing it."

Leopold had two assists in the game, his first points of the season.

Steen scored the winning goal in the final minute of a 3-2 win over Winnipeg on Oct. 29 and a 3-2 victory over Chicago on Oct. 9. He became the first St. Louis player to score 14 goals in the first 14 games of a season since Brett Hull had 16 in that span in the 1990-91 campaign.

Tim Jackman and Mike Cammalleri scored third-period goals for Calgary. Cammalleri tallied at 14:49 to bring the Flames to within 3-2.

But Elliott was able to close down Calgary with some help from a staunch defense, which blocked 18 shots.

"They got two on us, but we battled the last few minutes and squeaked it out," Elliott said.

Calgary rookie goaltender Reto Berra fell to 1-2 in his third career start.

Tarasenko broke an eight-game scoring drought with his fifth of the season on the power play at 3:01 of the opening period. He put home a rebound of a shot by Jay Bouwmeester.

Lapierre pushed the lead to 2-0 just over seven minutes later with his first goal as a member of the Blues.

"Everything we needed to do, we did in that first period," St. Louis coach Ken Hitchcock said. "We were really going, really on top of our game."

Lapierre was suspended five games for a hit on San Jose's Dan Boyle on Oct. 15. He got his first points of the season Thursday in his ninth game.

"It's been a slow start for me the first three weeks, almost like two training camps," Lapierre said. "Tonight is more like the player that I am."

The Flames, who were 0 for 6 on the power play, have failed in their last 28 man-advantage chances.

"I'd like to buy one," Calgary coach Bob Hartley said of the goal drought. "I know that the guys are working hard. It seems we just can't turn the red light on."

Calgary, after taking five first-period penalties, rallied with a solid third-period effort.

"A tale of two games," Cammalleri said. "We really didn't push the play early. At some point, we were able to get some momentum."

St. Louis defenseman Kevin Shattenkirk picked up an assist in his seventh successive game, the longest such streak in the NHL this season.

NOTES: Calgary forward Curtis Glencross is out four to six weeks with an MCL sprain suffered in Tuesday's 5-1 loss at Minnesota. The team is not disclosing which knee is hurt. "One of the two, what does that change?" Hartley said tersely. ... Blues have scored first in their last six games.... St. Louis opened a season-trying five-game homestand that concludes Nov. 16 against Carolina. ... The Blues have not allowed a power play goal in the last four games. ...Calgary did not record its third shot on goal until 14:30 left in the second period.