Blues drop Maple Leafs 5-3 in a tale of two captains

The St. Louis Blues soundly defeated the Toronto Maple Leafs 5-3 on Tuesday evening in a score which flattered a home side that was thoroughly outplayed by one of the premier teams in the NHL for the bulk of the game.

The Blues' brand of tenacious physicality, sound positional, tactical and transitional play was on full display as they out-shot the Maple Leafs 49-25, shutting them down by stifling their breakout attempts and then hemming them in their own zone.

The visitors, who have already clinched a playoff spot and are vying for their second Presidents' Trophy as the league's regular season point leaders, were led by their captain - David Backes, who recorded his second career hat trick.

After losing two games in a row, 4-0 against the Chicago Blackhawks last Wednesday and 4-1 to the Philadelphia Flyers on Saturday, The Blues have now put together two strong efforts going back to a 1-0 victory over the Pittsburgh Penguins on Sunday.

"With 10 games left - it's buckle down and get on to our game and start that sort of atmosphere in our room and in our game," he said. "I don't think anyone just turns on a switch and just says, "OK - it's playoff time".

Backes felt his strong showing on Tuesday was due to the team regaining focus for the stretch run along with a desire to take their game to another level playing in a major hockey town.

"Something about this barn and this stage - there is obviously a special thing about being in Toronto," he said. "Everyone is talking about the Leafs and every establishment has a neon Leafs sign of some sort - so when you are engrossed in that sort of environment you can feel the buzz."

The Blues last played in Toronto Jan. 6, 2011.

While the question for St. Louis is how deep they will go in the playoffs? for Toronto it is a question of if they can make the playoffs? The Maple Leafs have now dropped six games in a row.

In a nightmare scenario the Maple Leafs could not have imagined when their heads hit their pillows after a 3-2 win in LA on March 13, Toronto - stuck on 80 points - has fallen from 2nd in the Atlantic Division with a 7 point lead on the team occupying the final playoff spot (at the time the Flyers) to the outside looking in on the post-season for the first time since Jan. 14.

Relatively speaking, things did not start all that poorly for Toronto. Jonathan Bernier played well in his first game back since getting injured in first period of the aforementioned victory over the Kings.

He made a variety of tough stops including two right pad saves on Brendan Morrow's deflection followed by a point blank chance from Jaden Schwartz just over a minute in.

Prior to that, his first stop, a slow drifter on goal, was given a mock cheer directed not at Bernier himself - but rather at the perceived lack of competence by James Reimer - who was in net for the previous five loses.

With Bernier holding the fort, the Maple Leafs did something they have been unable to do over their previous five games as they opened the scoring on the power play when Joffrey Lupul slid in his 21st of the season at 11:30

However, the Blues persisted - registering 23 shots after 20 minutes alone. The Leafs had just 7 in the opening period.

T. J Oshie tied the game when he dove and swept in Roman Polak's point shot that crept between Bernier's legs at 15:55. Later, Backes would score on a power play with 33 seconds left - capitalizing on a Dion Phaneuf turnover - to give St. Louis a 2-1 lead they would carry into the first intermission.

In many ways, the go-ahead goal, was a microcosm of the kind of night each captain had and moreover - the direction in which the team they are charged with leading seems to be headed.

Phaneuf had plenty of time to ice the puck early in the man-advantage as he skated out toward his own blue line but he hesitated, which gave Oshie enough time to check him - leaving Phaneuf with only the ability to kick the puck out over the line.

From there it was text book Blues hockey as they took advantage of the forced turnover by initiating a quick give and go between Oshie and the captain. The result - Backes storming down the wing and firing the puck through Bernier's 5-hole for his 25th of the season

In the second period - with Dion Phaneuf caught deep in the Blues zone, Alex Pietrangelo threaded a cross seam pass to send Backes in alone where he once again zipped a shot between Bernier's pads to extend the St. Louis lead to 3-1 at 7:32.

For Phaneuf - it would get worse, For Backes - it would get better.

With under three minutes left in the period, Blues forward Alexander Steen knocked Phaneuf off balance sending him to the ice in the Leafs crease. The hit took Phaneuf out of the play and gave Steen enough time to handle the pass and then backhand the puck into the top corner on Bernier's glove side for his 31st goal this season.

The Blues took that 4-1 lead into the third period where they held off a Maple Leafs surge, which cut the lead to 4-3, on goals by Carl Gunnarsson and James van Riemsdyk.

Backes scored his third of the game into an empty net from the neutral zone with 1:07 remaining.

"A couple of great plays (were made) by teammates for me to capitalize tonight," Backes said. "Oshie on the power play goal - a great little give and go where he throws it in to an (open) area and I am able to skate in. Pietrangelo on the long pass to srping the second one... guys were teasing me that the empty netter was 5-hole too."

Phaneuf was on the ice for that goal as well.

"In tonight's situation, he had a rough night," said Maple Leafs head coach Randy Carlyle.

He feels that his entire team is playing very tense right now and is looking for ways to remedy that.

"When you are not having success... there is a lot of turmoil both personally and professionally," he said. "You've got to find a way to send your message and I don't think it's a kick in the (blank) type thing that is required."

Phaneuf finished with a -3 rating, 3 blocked shots and 4 hits in 21:05 of ice-time. Backes had a +3 rating, 4 hits and 7 shots.

"It's a tough job no matter where you are," said Backes of the wearing a "C". "I think it's even tougher in Toronto. They have had a tough stretch but you never know, you get on another roll and make the playoffs and then the story line changes pretty quick in the other direction and that is probably the toughest part - is the highs and lows from the coverage that every little thing gets."

In a tale of two captains, it was indeed the best of times and worst of times on Tuesday.

For Phaneuf and the Maple Leafs, who have just 8 games remaining in their regular season - things have to get better, now.

Follow Neil Acharya on Twitter: @Neil_Acharya