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Friday, Apr. 7 7:30pm ET
Zhamnov's big night powers 'Hawks | |||||
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BOX SCORE
ST. LOUIS (AP) -- The St. Louis Blues have more points than any team in the NHL while the Chicago Blackhawks will not even make the playoffs. But Chicago's Tony Amonte felt his team had the advantage Friday night. "They're a good club, but the circumstances may have favored us," said Amonte, who scored the Blackhawks' first goal in a 4-3 victory. "We're working harder because we're fighting for jobs and they're just trying to get ready for the playoffs." The Blues were still poised for a victory until Alexei Zhamnov came to the rescue for Chicago. Zhamnov scored the tying goal with 48.4 seconds left in regulation and added the winner with 1:25 remaining in overtime to cap a four-point night. Chicago snapped the Blues' streak of 56 straight regular-season victories when scoring three goals or more and also dealt St. Louis its first overtime defeat of the season. The Blues had been 5-0-11 in games that were tied after regulation. "These games may not mean anything but obviously you want to win," Blues goalie Jamie McLennan said. "It's a frustrating loss." An extra session was probably the last thing on McLennan's mind Friday, with St. Louis up two goals and under 4:00 remaining. But Steve Sullivan's goal with 3:29 left pulled the Blackhawks within 3-2. With the clock under 1:00, and the teams skating 4-on-4, the Blackhawks pulled goalie Steve Passmore for an extra attacker. That paid off when Zhamnov beat McLennan with a wrist shot from the slot. "We pretty much gave up with five minutes remaining," McLennan said. "We thought we had the game in hand. Then we made a couple of mistakes and that turned out to be the game." Zhamnov, who assisted on the Blackhawks' first two goals, won it when he took a pass from Sullivan and beat McLennan with a wrist shot from right in front. "It's difficult (to get motivated)," Zhamnov said. "We have to play right now for our fans. There's only one more game left." "Basically, we're just playing for jobs," forward Bob Probert said. "The Blues have already clinched their spot. We're just playing hard and playing for jobs." Jamal Mayers had a goal and an assist for St. Louis. The Blues, who clinched home-ice advantage throughout the playoffs Wednesday, rested several key players, including goalie Roman Turek and defenseman Chris Pronger. St. Louis was also without Scott Young (dislocated right shoulder) and Pavol Demitra (concussion). St. Louis coach Joel Quenneville needed 15 stitches after a stray puck hit him in the forehead in the first period. He left the bench, but returned in the second period. Rookie Ladislav Nagy scored his second goal and Marty Reasoner his 10th for the Blues, who have lost just twice in their last 12 games (8-2-2). Reasoner's goal gives St. Louis a dozen players with 10 or more goals. Zhamnov and Amonte combined to give Chicago a 1-0 lead 1:43 into the contest. While the Blackhawks were shorthanded, Zhamnov poked the puck past Blues defenseman Al Macinnis and broke in 2-on-1 with Amonte. Zhamnov faked a shot and passed to Amonte for the goal. St. Louis tied the game before the power play was up when Nagy scored from the right faceoff circle 1:06 later. Reasoner gave the Blues the lead at 16:43 of the first on the rebound of Mayers' shot. Mayers made it 3-1 when he outraced two Chicago defensemen for a loose puck and scored 1:36 into the second. | ALSO SEE NHL Scoreboard Chicago Clubhouse St. Louis Clubhouse Concussion may knock Blues' Demitra from first round of playoffs
RECAPS Pittsburgh 2 Buffalo 1
Chicago 4 AUDIO/VIDEO   Alexei Zhamnov scores the first of his two goals on the night.avi: 589 k RealVideo: 56.6 | ISDN | T1 Jamal Mayers beats goalie Steve Passmore with an excellent move.avi: 595 k RealVideo: 56.6 | ISDN | T1   | |||||