Picard, Blues Fight Off 'Canes

Michel Picard scored two goals, had an assist and needed 12 stitches Monday night, all of which, he said, was just the result of a lot of hard work.

"I'm just trying to work hard and make things happen," Picard said after scoring a career-high seventh goal in the St. Louis Blues' 5-2 win over the Carolina Hurricanes Monday night.

Picard had his chin and forehead stitched after the game where he was struck with a stick on one play and the puck on the other.

"It's no big deal," Picard said. "It's all part of the game."

Picard and his linemates, Pavol Demitra and Lubos Bartecko, had three goals and five assists in the game.

Picard said all three players use their speed.

"We can skate fast, and that is how you get chances to score," he said.

Bartecko, who had a goal and an assist, said his line has a simple approach.

"We're just putting everything to the net, and it works," he said.

Blues coach Joel Quenneville said the line shown steady improvement.

"It's fun to see the way they are working," Quenneville said.

The loss was the third in the row for the Hurricanes, who are winless in their last eight road games (0-4-4).

Hurricanes coach Paul Maurice said his team was tired after a loss to the Dallas Stars Sunday night.

"I don't think we had the same kind of jump we had last night and we made some mental errors that led to goals for them," he said.

The Blues are 5-5-1 in their last 10 games and 3-1-1 since goaltender Grant Fuhr returned after missing 16 games with a knee injury.

Goals by Picard and Jeff Finley gave the Blues a 2-1 lead after two periods. Finley's goal was his first since October 1997.

Picard scored his career-high sixth goal at 15:33 of the first period from a pileup in front of the net, beating goaltender Arturs Irbe.

Ron Francis tied the score at 14:2of the second period on a powerplay goal from the top of the slot.

Jeff Finley then scored his first goal this season at 17:22 on a powerplay. His slap shot from the right circle put St. Louis on top 2-1. Finley was acquired from the New York Rangers in a trade on Feb. 13.

Pierre Turgeon put the Blues ahead 3-1 at 3:35 of the third period when he scored his 26th goal during a two-man advantage for St. Louis. Turgeon scored from the right side of the net on a pass from Pavol Demitra, who had two assists in the game.

Picard's second goal of the night and 27th of his career came he poked in a rebound at 5:31 of the third period.

Keith Primeau cut the lead to 4-2 at 6:28 of the final period before Lubos Bartecko scored the final goal for the Blues at 12:29.

The Blues are 18-6-3 this year when leading after the first period.

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