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Blues Top Blackhawks, 2-1

ST. LOUIS (AP) -- Paul Stastny scored the game-winner, Dmitrij Jaskin broke a 16-game scoreless string, and Jake Allen made 21 saves to lead the St. Louis Blues to a 2-1 win over the Chicago Blackhawks in a Central Division showdown on Thursday night.

The Blues clinched the division title and home-ice advantage for the first round of the Stanley Cup playoffs with their second win over Chicago in five days. It's their first division title since 2011-2012 and only the third since 1986-87.

Jaskin poked a rebound past Alex Pietrangelo at 17:10 of the second period to break a scoreless tie. It was the Blues' first goal in 121 minutes, 58 seconds.

The power-play tally was set up when Chicago defenseman David Rundblad took a 4-minute penalty for high-sticking Jori Lehtera.  Jaskin's last goal came March 1 in a 6-5 overtime loss to Vancouver.

Andrew Shaw scored for Chicago, which has lost three in a row but is guaranteed of opening the playoffs on the road and will finish third in the division.

Stastny converted on a 3-on-1 off a pass from Jaden Schwartz at 14:05 of third period for a 2-0 lead.

Shaw cut the deficit to 2-1 with his 15th goal of the season with 2:39 remaining.

Allen, who improved to 8-2-2 since Feb.1, stopped 38 shots in the Blues' 2-1 win Sunday in Chicago. His biggest save Thursday came early in the third period when he stopped Bryan Bickell from point-blank range while nursing a 1-0 lead.

Chicago goalie Corey Crawford made 23 saves and fell to 32-20-5.

Notes: Vladimir Tarasenko, the Blues' leading scorer with 36 goals, missed his fifth successive game with a lower body injury. St. Louis forward Alex Steen missed his sixth game in a row, also with a lower body injury. Both players participated in the morning skate and could be ready for Saturday's regular-season finale against Minnesota, according to coach Ken Hitchcock ... The Blues are 7-2 in their last nine home games against Chicago. ... The Blues had lost four of their previous five home games. ... Chicago closes the regular season Saturday at Colorado. ... A crowd of 19,751 was the Blues' 22nd sellout of the season.

(© 2015 by STATS LLC and Associated Press. Any commercial use or distribution without the express written consent of STATS LLC and Associated Press is strictly prohibited.)

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