St. Louis Blues reaches .500 mark with 2-1 victory

Jay McClement scored short-handed for the go-ahead goal, spoiling a four-minute Coyotes power play in the second period of the St. Louis Blues' 2-1 victory over Phoenix on Tuesday night.

Goalie Chris Mason overcame his stickhandling mistake that led to the opening goal with a strong finish for the Blues, 6-2-4 in February while edging into the playoff picture. St. Louis is 26-26-8, reaching the .500 mark for the first time since Dec. 10, and has two wins and an overtime loss the last three games despite totaling four goals.

Shane Doan scored his 250th career goal for Phoenix, which wasn't able to surmount Ilya Bryzgalov's flub in the nets. The Coyotes missed a chance for a third straight victory, which would match a season best, and have lost 10 of 13 overall.

A four-minute high-sticking call on the Blues' David Backes ended up backfiring on the Coyotes on the deciding goal. McClement scored his ninth of the season and third short-handed on a 2-on-1 break with T.J. Oshie at 15:36 of the second period to put St. Louis ahead 2-1.

Oshie started the play by blocking a shot on the other end. Phoenix ended up with three shots on the power play, none of them great chances.

Mason fanned on a clearing attempt to set up a goal for the Coyotes on their first shot, by Doan at 6:14 of the opening period.

— AP