Blake's goal caps Ducks' rally past NHL-best Blues

St. Louis Blues center Vladimir Sobotka, left, and Anaheim Ducks defenseman Sheldon Brookbank battle for the puck during the first period of their NHL hockey game, Wednesday, March 21, 2012, in Anaheim, Calif. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

By Greg Beacham

AP Sports Writer / March 22, 2012

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ANAHEIM, Calif.—Jason Blake scored the tiebreaking goal from behind the St. Louis net with 5:54 to play, and the Anaheim Ducks rallied from a third-period deficit for a 4-3 victory over the NHL-leading Blues on Wednesday night.

Devante Smith-Pelly tied it earlier in the third period for the Ducks, who erased three St. Louis leads before Blake banked his seventh goal of the season off the skate of St. Louis defenseman Ian Cole. Jonas Hiller made 35 saves for Anaheim, which won five straight home games over St. Louis.

Cam Fowler and Nick Bonino also scored and captain Ryan Getzlaf had two assists for the Ducks, whose playoff hopes are essentially dead despite a strong second-half surge under new coach Bruce Boudreau.