Tkachuk leads Blues' shutout

ST. LOUIS -- Keith Tkachuk scored twice, and Chris Osgood made 21 saves for his 39th career shutout in the Blues' 2-0 victory over the Florida Panthers on Saturday night.

Tkachuk, who has nine goals, has scored the game-winner in three straight games for the Blues, who have won five of their last six.

The shutout was the first of the season for Osgood, and third in 20 regular-season games with St. Louis. Osgood's toughest period was the first, when he made seven saves, including stops on two 2-on-1 breaks.

Pavol Demitra assisted on both of Tkachuk's goals.

St. Louis didn't miss center Doug Weight, who was serving the first of a four-game suspension for cross-checking Vancouver's Henrik Sedin in the face. The Blues are 78-40-16-9 the last three seasons when Weight is in the lineup and 15-14-3-2 without him.

Florida fell to 0-5-0-0 against Western Conference opponents. The Panthers are 1-7-1-0 in their last nine games in St. Louis.

Florida's only win at the Savvis Center came on Nov. 23, 1996.

Tkachuk gave the Blues all the offense they would need when he scored his first goal 7:18 in on a 4-on-1 break. Demitra carried the puck in on right wing and slid it across to Tkachuk, who tapped it past Roberto Luongo.

That same combination worked at 10:02 of the second period with the Blues on the power play. This time, Tkachuk deflected home Demitra's slap shot from the top of the right circle while standing in the slot.

Notes: Blues defenseman Barret Jackman returned to the lineup after missing the previous six games with a dislocated shoulder. ... Florida hadn't been shut out since being blanked 3-0 at Washington on April 1, 2003. ... St. Louis is 6-0-0-1 when Tkachuk scores.