With another fine outing Saturday night, Colorado Avalanche defenseman Tyson Barrie further proved that come this summer he is deserving of a hefty raise.
Barrie almost single-handedly gifted the Edmonton Oilers a 3-2 defeat Saturday with two goals and an assist, helping the Avalanche collect their second straight win.
(Courtesy: NHL.com)
With his trio of points against the Oilers, Barrie moved into eighth among all defenseman with 30 points in 57 games and it isn't the only category that seems him slotted in the top 10.
Barrie ranks second among the league's best defensemen with five game-winning goals, is tied for eighth in power play points, and tied for ninth in assists. He has also - since becoming a regular with the Avalanche during the 2013-14 season - watched his production increase every year.
This summer Barrie will become a restricted free agent where he can expect to cash in. He is currently making $2.6 million this season in a year where he is poised to surpass his previous career highs in both goals and points.
Barrie is on his way to becoming one of the league's great d-men and by as early as this summer he should be paid like one.
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The St. Louis Blues keep on rolling.
Vladimir Tarasenko's 28th goal of the season kickstarted a four-goal first period as the Blues held on for their fifth consecutive win Saturday, beating the Arizona Coyotes 6-4. With the victory, St. Louis continues to close in on the Chicago Blackhawks and Dallas Stars atop the Central Division.
| Team | W | L | OT | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chicago | 38 | 18 | 5 | 81 |
| Dallas | 37 | 17 | 6 | 80 |
| St. Louis | 35 | 17 | 9 | 79 |
Alex Steen scored his 17th of the season just three minutes after assisting Tarasenko's goal. Though, Steen's game ended shortly thereafter when he suffered an apparent arm injury after Coyotes defenseman Kevin Connauton sent him flying into the boards.
(Courtesy: NHL.com)
Jaden Schwartz added his fourth goal in five games and Carl Gunnarsson scored his second of the season before the first period ended. Patrik Berglund redirected a Scottie Upshall pass for his fifth of the year and captain David Backes added an empty-netter in the final second.
Goaltender Brian Elliott struggled, making just 18 saves on 22 shots. But his effort was still enough for the victory in his 17th consecutive start - a period in which the Blues have won 11 games.
They will look to extend the winning streak to a season-high six games in a game against the San Jose Sharks on Monday.
Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.