National Hockey League
BOXSCORE | RECAP
St. Louis 5, Toronto 3
When: 7:00 PM ET, Tuesday, March 25, 2014
Where: Air Canada Centre, Toronto, Ontario
Referees: Ghislain Hebert, Marc Joannette
Linesmen: Matt MacPherson, Steve Miller
Attendance: 19505

Blues 5, Maple Leafs 3: Captain David Backes recorded his second career hat trick to spoil goaltender Jonathan Bernier’s return to the lineup as St. Louis capped its road trip with two straight wins.

Alexander Steen and T.J. Oshie had a goal and two assists apiece for the Blues, who won their league-best 24th road game. Ryan Miller made 22 saves for his 32nd career victory over Toronto.

Joffrey Lupul, defenseman Carl Gunnarsson and James van Riemsdyk replied for the Maple Leafs, who dropped their sixth straight contest. Bernier stopped 44 shots after missing five games with a groin injury.

Backes gave St. Louis a 2-1 lead at 19:27 of the first period when he fired a shot underneath Bernier. The captain added his second of the contest 7:32 into the middle session and capped his hat trick with an empty-net goal to seal the game.

St. Louis fired 23 shots in the first period and held a 4-1 lead after 40 minutes, but goals by Gunnarsson and van Riemsdyk with 4:06 remaining in the contest brought Toronto within a goal. Both teams finished 1-for-3 on the power play.

GAME NOTEBOOK: Backes’ first career hat trick was part of a four-goal game on April 2, 2009. … Toronto has not defeated the Blues in regulation since Feb. 6, 2007. … Maple Leafs RW David Clarkson was held off the scoresheet for his 14th consecutive game.

Top Game Performances
 
St. Louis   Toronto
David Backes 3 Points Jake Gardiner 2
David Backes 3 Goals Carl Gunnarsson 1
T.J Oshie 2 Assists Jake Gardiner 2
David Backes 1 Power Play Goals Joffrey Lupul 1
N/A Short Handed Goals N/A
Ryan Miller .880 Save Percentage Jonathan Bernier .917
Ryan Miller 22 Saves Jonathan Bernier 44
Team Stats Summary
 
Team Shots Goals Power Play Penalty Kill Penalty Mins Face Offs Won
St. Louis 49 5 1-3 2-3 11 37
Toronto 25 3 1-3 2-3 11 26
Upcoming Games
  • Toronto will play their next game on the road against Philadelphia. The Maple Leafs have a W/L % of .568 after a win and .405 after a loss.
  • St. Louis will play their next game at home against Minnesota. The Blues have a W/L % of .653 after a win and .739 after a loss.