Blues 2, Blackhawks 1: Olli Jokinen scored his first goal in 23 games to snap a tie late in the second period and Jake Allen made 38 saves as visiting St. Louis moved into first place in the Central Division.

Captain David Backes matched a career high with his 10th power-play tally of the season for the Blues, who have won three in a row to gain a one-point lead over idle Nashville. Jaden Schwartz notched an assist to extend his point streak to three games.

Kris Versteeg scored his first goal in 17 contests for Chicago, which resides two points behind the second-place Predators after seeing its four-game winning streak come to a halt. Marian Hossa had an assist to extend his point streak to five games and Corey Crawford turned aside 31 shots to drop to 12-3-3 in his career against St. Louis.

Defenseman Alex Pietrangelo's shot from the point caromed off Ty Rattie and right to Jokinen, who shoveled home the rebound from in front to give the Blues a 2-1 lead with 4:48 remaining in the second period. Hossa hit the post on a breakaway later in the session and Allen stopped all 12 shots he faced in the third to improve to 4-0-1 in his last five starts.

The Blackhawks made St. Louis' T.J. Oshie pay for a turnover at the blue line, with Versteeg depositing Hossa's centering feed into the net to open the scoring with 5:48 remaining in the first period. The Blues forged a tie 6:07 into the second, as Backes nudged Chicago defenseman Duncan Keith before shoveling home Schwartz's pass from the right doorstep.

GAME NOTEBOOK: Jokinen scored his last goal when he helped Nashville post a 7-6 victory over Los Angeles on Jan. 3. ... Versteeg's last tally came against Florida on Feb. 24, the game in which superstar Patrick Kane suffered a broken clavicle. ... Hossa has collected one goal and five assists on his point streak. ... St. Louis D Barret Jackman played in his 800th career contest. ... Blackhawks D Kimmo Timonen (undisclosed) and Blues D Robert Bortuzzo (upper body) suffered injuries in the first period and did not return to the contest.