CHICAGO (AP) _ The Chicago Blackhawks played well again when it didn't matter.

Josef Marha scored a go-ahead power play goal in the third period Sunday and the Blackhawks headed to vacation with a 3-1 victory over the NHL's best regular-season team, the St. Louis Blues.

While the Blues own a 51-20-11 record and home-ice advantage throughout into the playoffs, the Blackhawks go home having missed the postseason for a third straight year.

Marha took a nifty pass from Steve Sullivan, who was behind the net, and shoved it past Roman Turek at 7:32 of the final period for a 2-1 lead. Michael Nylander scored an insurance goal on a rebound with 55 seconds remaining.

St. Louis scored first on a first-period power play when Jochen Hecht flicked in a rebound from the right circle. The Blackhawks tied it early in the second when Sullivan's shot from the right corner got past Turek, who then knocked it into the net.

Turek entered the game leading the league with seven shutouts and a 1.94 goals against average this season. The Blues rested several players in the regular-season finale, including Chris Pronger and Pierre Turgeon. The Blackhawks had also beaten the Blues 4-3 in overtime Friday in St. Louis.

Following a 28-year run in the playoffs, the Blackhawks current three-year drought is their longest since missing the postseason five straight times from 1954-58.

After a major overhaul on Dec. 2 in which GM Bob Murray was fired, Lorne Molleken demoted from head coach to associate and Bob Pulford called back and given the titles of general manager and head coach, the Blackhawks went 28-24-6.

But for the second straight year, it was too late to overcome a horrendous start and they finished 33-39-10.

Molleken's future is still unclear, and director of hockey operations Mike Smith might take until next month to make a decision on whether Molleken returns.

Veteran Ed Olczyk, chosen third by the Blackhawks in the 1984 draft, was greeted with a standing ovation before faceoff and was brought to tears in what was probably his last game with the team. He was traded away in 1987 and rejoined Chicago as a free agent in 1998. This was his 16th NHL season.