ST. LOUIS - Kyle Turris scored the deciding goal in the fifth round of the shootout to go with one in regulation, and the Ottawa Senators beat the St. Louis Blues 5-4 on Tuesday night.
T.J. Oshie had a goal and an assist and scored to open the shootout for the Blues, who lost at home to an Eastern Conference opponent for the first time in 10 games this season. St. Louis had a season-high 50 shots but squandered a two-goal cushion in the third period and missed two chances to close it out in the shootout.
Jason Spezza had his third three-point game of the season and capped a three-goal flurry in a span of 2:35 that gave Ottawa a 4-3 lead midway through the third period. Erik Karlsson had a goal and an assist to give him 53 points, best among NHL defensemen.
Blues defenseman Jordan Leopold tied it at 11:08 with his first goal of the season on an odd-angled shot that banged off goalie Robin Lehner.
The attendance of 14,758 was more than 4,000 shy of capacity at the Scottrade Center, the crowd held down by a snowstorm that left roadways clogged.
The Blues also set a season best with 23 shots in a two-goal second period, seemingly taking control with a 3-1 lead despite coming up empty with more than 2 minutes of a two-man advantage.
The puck got lodged in the netting on Oshie's goal that made it 3-2, a score that went unannounced until after Oshie pointed out the puck's location and then the play was reviewed.
Ottawa beat Jaroslav Halak for three goals in a span of four shots in the third, with Milan Michalek and Turris scoring. Besides scoring his first goal in 38 games with St. Louis over two seasons, Leopold also saved one in the second period. Karlsson's shot trickled between Halak's pads and was on the goal line and still sliding when the defenseman swatted it away.
The game began with the promise of fisticuffs from the Blues as retribution for an elbow to the head by Ottawa's Zack Smith that was blamed for the concussion that sidelined leading scorer Alexander Steen for 11 games in late December. Rugged Ryan Reaves was picked to take the opening faceoff for the Blues, presumably set to square off with Smith, but both players were whistled for minor unsportsmanlike conduct penalties in the opening minute and both teams settled down.
Leopold has six points in 22 games this season.