BLUES After carrying a 1-0 lead for most of Friday's game, the St. Louis Blues surrendered a goal to Dallas' Roope Hintz with 3:11 remaining in the third period.
Not to be outdone, Ryan O'Reilly would score just 18 seconds later on a beautiful set up from Ivan Barbashev to give the Blues the lead - and the win - again.
The win snapped Dallas' home winning streak at seven games.
The Blues improved to 4-1-1 in their past six games and 16-5-6 on the season (38 points), which ranks first in the Western Conference.
PENGUINS Jake Guentzel had a goal and an assist and goalie Tristan Jarry made 25 saves, but the Penguins couldn't overcome a hat trick from Columbus' Gustav Nyquist on Friday night and fell 5-2 to the Blue Jackets at Nationwide Arena.
The Penguins had collected points in six straight games before Friday's loss.
"I don't think we played well enough tonight to win," Penguins Head Coach Mike Sullivan said. "It's as simple as that."
Guentzel leads the Penguins this season with 27 points (15 goals, 12 assists) in 26 games, while Evgeni Malkin ranks second with 21 points (six goals 15 assists) in 15 games. Sidney Crosby is out of the lineup after undergoing core muscle surgery.
The Penguins currently sit fourth in the Metropolitan Division with 32 points (14-8-4).
HEAD-TO-HEAD Saturday's matchup is the first of two meetings between the Blues and Penguins this season. The teams will meet again on Dec. 4 in Pittsburgh.
The teams split the season series last year, with each team winning on the road.
The Blues are 9-4-2 in their last 15 meetings with the Penguins.
