Erik Johnson scores in overtime, Blues beat Coyotes 3-2

Johnson scores overtime goal for Blues

ST. LOUIS — Erik Johnson scored on an end-to-end rush 17 seconds into overtime to give the St. Louis Blues a 3-2 victory over the Phoenix Coyotes on Thursday night.

The win was the first for St. Louis in five overtimes (1-4) this season and the first loss for Phoenix (4-1) in five extra sessions.

After Phoenix put the puck in St. Louis’ end, Johnson gained control, skated up left wing and crossed the Coyotes’ blue line with the puck. The defenseman moved into the high slot and beat goalie Ilya Bryzgalov with a wrist shot.

Keith Tkachuk and T J. Oshie also scored for St. Louis. Blues goalie Chris Mason made 34 saves, including 13 in the third period. Radim Vrbata and Vernon Fidder scored for Phoenix, and Bryzgalov turned away 27 shots.

After Taylor Pyatt and Fiddler executed a perfect give and go to give Phoenix the lead 1:58 into the second period, Oshie tied it at 2:35 of the third when he got control of the puck in front, and slipped a backhander past Bryzgalov.

Tkachuk was involved in the game’s first two goals. He turned the puck over in his own end, which led to Sami Lipisto feeding Shaun Heska in the slot. Vrbata deflected Heska’s shot past Mason at the 3:22 mark of the first period to make it 1-0.

Just 2:59 later, Tkachuk made up for that when he broke in on right wing, skated around Lipisto and shoved the puck under Bryzgalov to tie the game.

NOTES: Phoenix defenseman Ed Jovanovski missed his sixth straight game because of a lower-body injury. … Tkachuk’s goal was his first in 14 games. … The Blues are 4-7-1 at home and 2-2 on their six-game homestand. … Vrbata has three goals in his last four games.