ST. LOUIS, MO - FEBRUARY 16: Ivan Barbashev #49 of the St. Louis Blues and John Marino #6 of the New Jersey Devils look for control of the puck at the Enterprise Center on February 16, 2023 in St. Louis, Missouri. (Photo by Joe Puetz/NHLI via Getty Images)

BLUES 4 – DEVILS 2

The race in the Metropolitan division continues to intrigue. The New Jersey Devils dropped a 4-2 decision to St. Louis on Thursday night, while first place Carolina took care of Montreal 6-2. The New York Rangers were idle last night.

That means Jersey now trails Carolina by five points in the standings, while still maintaining an slender three point lead over the Blue Shirts.

Aside from tying their contest in St. Louis at one in the first period, New Jersey never really established much momentum.

Alexey Toropchenko broke the one-all tie four minutes into the second period when he jumped over Mackenzie Blackwood and saved Nathan Walker’s attempt at the goal by tapping the puck in.

Some 90 seconds later, Jordan Kyrou tapped in a goal of his own to push the Blues lead to 3-1.

Losers of two of its last three games, the Devils visit Pittsburgh on Saturday at 5:30.