Tarasenko more than just a goal scorer

If you had to pick one phrase to define Blues forward Vladimir Tarasenko, the first thing to come to mind would probably be "goal scorer."
But Tarasenko is showing he's more than capable of making some pretty good passes, too.
This season, Tarasenko has 15 goals and 22 assists, and it's the first time in his career that he's registered more assists than goals.

"He never got enough credit for being a passer," Blues Head Coach Ken Hitchcock said. "I know everybody talked about a couple of passes he made (Thursday vs. New Jersey), but it was the play in Nashville (on Dec. 13) to me that he made to (Brad) Hunt that shows you how good of a passer he is. He looked off two people, he froze two checkers and the goalie. That takes a lot of creativity. He's able to make plays laterally in the zone while looking at the net. That's what (Brett) Hull did.

"Hull would freeze the goaltender and give a lot of people empty-net goals and never got enough credit for it. That's what Vladi did," Hitchcock added. "Hunt had a great shot, but the goaltender was frozen thinking shot, and so was the defenseman and so was the defending forward on that side."
Thanks to a five-game point streak that has seen Tarasenko score two goals and eight assists (10 points), the Blues' forward now ranks second overall in the League in points (37), trailing Edmonton's Connor McDavid (39).
"I'm not really following (the stats)," Tarasenko said. "I just try to work every day. I believe my work and the team's work will pay off. (The points) are really nice, but it's all because of my linemates and teammates, who allow me to score those goals and points."