Tuesday, September 14
Blues 4 vs. Lightning 3
Traverse City, MI- The St. Louis Blues captured their fourth Prospects Tournament title after defeating the Tampa Bay Lightning 4-3 on Tuesday afternoon. Alexei Shkotov, coming off a hat trick performance on Monday night, scored the game-winner midway through the third period to seal the victory.
St. Louis registered the games first goal as Dale Mahovsky scored at the 18:52 mark of the first period. The Lightning stormed back in the second period with three unanswered goals and outshot the Blues 12-8.
Troy Riddle, a University of Minnesota product and St. Louis’ fourth round selection in the 2000 draft, notched a goal 14 seconds into the third period to cut Tampa Bay’s lead to 3-2. Just 24 seconds later, Riddle again would find the back of the net as he skated down the left wing and shot just inside the far side post at the 38 second mark. At 9:17 of the third, Shkotov buried a shot just under the crossbar, recording his fourth goal of the tournament and the game-winning goal. Goaltender Chris Beckford-Tseu, playing in his second game for the Blues, turned away 28 of 31 Lightning shots to record the victory.
St. Louis posted a 3-1-0 record and have competed in the Prospects Tournament since 1998, capturing four titles in seven years.