ST. LOUIS – Martin Biron made 24 saves to beat the St. Louis Blues for the first time in 11 career games and Sean Avery scored the go-ahead goal in the second period of the New York Rangers' 2-1 victory on Saturday night.
Brandon Dubinsky had two assists — also helping to set up Derek Stepan's goal — for the Rangers, the only NHL team that hadn't beaten the Blues in regulation the last 10 seasons. New York leads the NHL with 31 road points (15-7-1). The Rangers earned a shootout victory at Dallas on Friday, and are 10-1 on the back end when playing on consecutive nights.
The Blues' Brad Winchester opened the scoring on a deflection early in the second period.
St. Louis squandered a chance to tie it late, but got only one shot during a four-minute power play after Avery was whistled for high-sticking.
Biron entered the game 0-7-2 with a 2.52 goals-against average against the Blues. He was at his best during a second-period power play, stopping six shots.
Stepan's 12th goal beat Jaroslav Halak between the legs to tie it at 1 midway through the second. Avery's second of the season at 15:26 erased momentum the Blues had built while taking nine straight shots.
Dubinsky emerged from the scrum with the puck and fed it to Marian Gaborik, whose fluttering one-timer deflected off Halak's chest and sailed over his helmet, landing near the goal line. Avery tapped it in for his first goal since Oct. 27.
The Blues were held to a season-low two shots in a scoreless first period, when New York managed only six. St. Louis scored on its second shot of the second period, taking the lead on Winchester's deflection.
Winchester has scored in consecutive games for the first time and has seven goals this season.
NOTES: The Blues have sold out all 22 home games. ... Dubinsky has four goals and 12 assists the last 17 games. ... The Rangers are 11-4-2 in their past 17 games.
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