Blues chase Kari Lehtonen after three-goal first period in Game 7

Much like Brian Elliott in Game 6, Wednesday night’s Game 7 did not get off to the best of starts for Kari Lehtonen and the Dallas Stars. By the time the second period began, the St. Louis Blues held a 3-0 lead and Antti Niemi was already in goal.

The Blues opened the scoring with a power play goal 5:23 into the game. Troy Browuer’s shot in the slot was stopped by Lehtonen, but the rebound stayed in the Dallas crease before rookie Robby Fabbri stuffed it home for his second goal of the series.

Late in the first, the Stars caught a break after a Vladimir Tarasenko goal was called back after it was ruled the Blues entered the zone offside. But one minute later Paul Stastny beat Lehtonen with a shot that the netminder will want to have back.

The Blues weren’t done yet with Lehtonen. A Patrik Berglund’s long-distance wrister was deflected en route and found its way into the back of the Dallas net with 3.5 seconds left in the first period.

That display was more than enough for Stars head coach Lindy Ruff to make a change. Niemi was in net for the start of the second period and promptly allowed a fourth Blues goal 3:50 in from David Backes.

Barring an epic comeback, the Blues will reach the conference final for the first time since 2001.

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