Mrazek Masterful Again: Blackhawks Beat Blues 3-1 For Second Straight Win.

Petr Mrazek blocked 38 shots, defenseman Alex Vlasic had a goal and an assist, and the Chicago Blackhawks topped the St. Louis Blues 3-1 on Saturday night to win consecutive games for the first time this season.

Mrazek was solid, but not wildly tested, as he followed up on a sensational 37-save effort in Chicago's 1-0 blanking of Anaheim on Thursday. He lost a bid for a second straight shutout with 3:29 left in the third period when Oskar Sundqvist rifled in a short-handed goal to cap a 3-on-1 break. 

The Blackhawks have points (five) in three straight.

"We know Petr's been big back there and playing well," coach Luke Richardson said. "I think that's been huge for us to get these back-to-back victories. It's been a long time coming."

Mrazek was sharpest in the third period when the Blues outshot the Blackhawks 16-2 as they defended a three-goal lead. Before Thursday, Mrazek's previous shutout was on April 4, 2021 when he was with Carolina.

"When you see the puck early, then it makes the game easier," Mrazek said.

He narrowly missed posting Chicago's first back-to-back shutouts since Corey Crawford did it in November 2017.

"You don't kind of think about it," Mrazek said. "Obviously it was close. Especially with the power play we had, I was like, all right, maybe it might happen." See video.

Richardson not only called out Mrazek's puck-stopping, but also his puck-play to help prevent the Blues from establishing a presence and time in the Chicago zone.

Anthony Beauvillier was credited with his first goal as a Blackhawk on a goalmouth deflection of D-man Nikita Zaitzev's shot 4:43 into the first period. Zaitsev also set up Jason Dickinson's ninth goal, a tap-in with 5:07 left in the second, with a nifty cross-ice pass that made it 3-0

Beauvillier played his fourth game with Chicago on a line with Connor Bedard and Philipp Kurashev since being acquired from Vancouver on Nov. 28.

The 6-foot-6 Vlasic scored his first goal this season and second of his career at 9:20 of the first on a high screened shot to give Chicago a 2-0 lead, 

The 22-year-old native of suburban Wilmette, Illinois, on Chicago's North Shore, is still classified as a rookie and has been solid after spending most of 2022-23 with AHL Rockford.

Louis Crevier, Vlasic's 6-foot-8 defense partner, recorded his first NHL assist in his third game.

Mrazek was hampered by a groin injury over the past two seasons with Chicago and Toronto. Considered "damaged goods," His condition led to the Maple Leafs unloading him and his $3.8 million annual salary in a trade to the Blackhawks in a trade in June 2022.

Mrazek shown no signs of being hurt this season, even on rebuiding Chicago. He has a 3.03 goals-against average and .912 save percentage. 

The Blackhawks have just four goals from defensemen in their first 26 games. They got a goal and four assists from their blueliners on Saturday.

Two of Chicago's defenseman goals are by rookie Kevin Korchinski, who was placed on non-roster on Saturday morning to "tend to a family matter," according to coach Luke Richardson.

The smooth-skating 19-year-old was believed heading back home to Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. He was not joining Canada's squad for the IIHF World Junior Championship

Richardson said there was "no timeline yet" for Korchinski's return after the team learned late on Friday of the youngster's need take time off. The Blackhawks recalled D-man Isaak Phillips from AHL Rockford to take Korchinski's spot

In 25 games with Chicago, Korchinski has two goals and five assists. The slender 6-foot-1, 190 pound blueliner is averaging 19:31 of ice time, fifth highest among rookies.

Chicago "energy" forward Reese Johnson and St. Louis center Brayden Schenn tanlged an old-fashioned fight with a couple of haymakers with 1:12 left in the first. The altercation brewed after Johnson missed on a prime scoring chance breaking in off the right side.

Forward Ryan Donato missed the game with an illness.

Blues winger Hugh McGing, a native of Chicago, was called up from AHL Springfield and skated in his first game this season and second of his career.

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