Perron giving Blues what they'd hoped for

ST. LOUIS - If you think David Perron is giving the Blues more than they anticipated when they signed him on the first day of free agency last summer, think again.
Blues Head Coach Ken Hitchcock said they're getting exactly what they'd hoped for.

"He played very well when he played with (Ryan) Getzlaf and (Corey) Perry in Anaheim. That's the player we were hoping to get, and that's the player we got," Hitchcock said after the team's optional practice on Monday morning. "He's played, he's earned his ice time, he's earned both ends of special teams. He's played hard and he's playing the game the right way."
Indeed, Perron scored an impressive eight goals and 12 assists (20 points) in 28 games with the Ducks last season. And right now, he's on a career-best seven game point streak, scoring two goals and eight assists in that span.
It's the longest active scoring streak in the League.
And while it won't count for his goal total, Perron's shootout goal against Devan Dubynk on Saturday also guaranteed the Blues two points in an important divisional game against the Wild.
"He's just battling for every puck," said teammate Dmitrij Jaskin. "Just watching him, it'd be hard to play against because he never gives up. He's trying to take every chance he's got, shoot every puck. That's what's been good for him. He's been playing real well."

Despite having a strong start to the season, the points didn't come early for Perron. He had just four in October, despite feeling like he was on top of his game. But 11 of his 15 points have come in November, and he's contributing on special teams, too, logging 2 minutes and 31 seconds of power-play time per game as well as 1 minute, 31 seconds of ice time while shorthanded - nearly a minute more than any other season in his career.
"As you get older, you don't worry about points as much," Perron said. "You worry about the team play and making sure you do all the right things so that the coaches trust you. You're going to get more opportunity that way.
"The points have been coming recently but I have to make sure I'm on top of my game."
On top of his game is exactly where Perron has been all season, and it's showing on the scoresheet. Through 22 games, he has 15 points (six goals, nine assists), which trails only Vladimir Tarasenko (22) for the team lead.
"Overall, we're happy with his game," Hitchcock said. "The way he finished the season in Anaheim, he's continued down that path and it's a great sign."