Russell scores in Blues debut, Elliott blanks TB

ST. LOUIS (AP) - Brian Elliott stopped 19 shots, and defenseman Kris Russell scored in his St. Louis debut to lead the Blues to a 3-0 win over Tampa Bay on Saturday night.

St. Louis improved to 5-0-1 in its last six home games. The Blues have earned five points in three games under new coach Ken Hitchcock, who replaced Davis Payne on Sunday.

Tampa Bay had a three-game winning streak snapped.

Russell, acquired from the Columbus Blue Jackets on Friday, netted his third goal of the season late in the first period. Kevin Shattenkirk and T.J. Oshie also scored for the Blues.

Shattenkirk converted off a 2-on-1 break late in the second to make it 2-0. The defenseman has two goals and is tied for the team lead with 11 points.

Oshie, who scored the Blues' first short-handed goal, has five goals this season and four in five games.

Elliott (6-1) faced just eight shots in the first two periods. Tampa Bay didn't have a shot on goal in the final 14:04 of the second period. Signed as a free agent in the offseason, Elliott has two shutouts in his last four starts. He made 32 saves in a 3-0 win over Vancouver on Oct. 26.

Tampa Bay goalie Mathieu Garon fell to 3-3-1. The Lightning, who had a season low in shots, were shut out for the first time this season.

NOTES: Tampa Bay goalie Dwayne Roloson didn't play despite being 7-2-1 with a 1.58 goals-against average in his last 10 starts against St. Louis. ... Tampa Bay has been outscored 19-11 in the first period this season. ... The Blues have scored at least one third-period goal in the last nine games.