Blues rout Stars 6-1

Alexander Steen and David Backes had two goals apiece and theJori Lehtera Jersey defense put the clamps on the Dallas Stars in a 6-1 victory that put them up 2-1 in the second-round series Tuesday night.

Vladimir Tarasenko had a goal and two assists, Troy Brouwer had a goal and assist and Brian Elliott was strong when he needed to be for the Blues in their first lopsided triumph of the postseason. Their other five wins were decided by one goal, including 4-3 in overtime in Game 3 after the Stars came from two goals down.

''Last game in the third http://www.officialbluesteamshop.com/Womens_Youth_Kevin_Shattenkirk_Jersey period, we had a little bit of a letdown, sitting back on our heels, and we made it more of a game than we wanted to be,'' Brouwer said. ''Tonight, we kept pushing, we kept attacking.''

The Blues finished two points behind Western Conference champion Dallas in the regular season and have control of the series heading into Game 4 Thursday night in St. Louis. Despite a late start - more than 1 1/2 hours past the usual puck http://www.officialbluesteamshop.com/Womens_Youth_Kyle_Brodziak_Jerseydrop - the vast majority of a standing-room crowd of 19,323 stuck around to the finish.

''Credit everybody in the room that they bought in,'' Backes said. ''We had probably our most complete effort of the postseason, and a good time to have it.''

St. Louis scored six unanswered goals after Colton Sceviour gave Dallas the early advantage, three coming in a breakaway second period. Steen capped the big second period with a power-play goal, matching his postseason Mark Messier Jerseycareer high for goals in a game.

''He's one http://www.officialoilersteamshop.com/Womens_Youth_Nail_Yakupov_Jersey of the most complete players in the league,'' coach Ken Hitchcock said. ''I think if he would have been healthy, he would have had a real shot at the Selke (Trophy).''

Antti Niemi was the lone major lineup change for Game 3, replacing Kari Lehtonen in the Stars' net after playing effectively the last two periods plus overtime in Game 2. That switch didn't last long, and it didn't matter.

Lehtonen was back early in the second after Niemi allowed three goals on 12 shots.

''It hasn't been a goalie issue, really,'' said defenseman Alex Goligoski, who was beaten on one goal and had a second go in off his skate. ''We're giving up some big chances, at bad times, early in games.