Scott Young's third period power play goal proved to be the game winner as the Blues moved past Detroit and New Jersey to claim the best record in the NHL. Beating the Los Angeles Kings 3-2 leapfrogged St. Louis into the top spot. Detroit lost 5-2 in Chicago and the Devils were idle Thursday night. Lubos Bartecko and Jamal Mayers also scored for the Blues, who have lost only twice in their last sixteen games.

Bryan Smolinski scored twice for the Kings, once in the first period and again in the second. Smolinski opened the scoring early in the game, but the Blues rallied back to score twice in the first period on only three shots. Mayers beat the Kings down the ice and took the free puck in and beat Stephane Fiset with a quick low shot. With less than two minutes left in the period, Bartecko deflected Pavol Demitra's shot past Fiset. The Slovak line of Bartecko, Demitra and Michal Handzus had been working the puck nicely in the Kings' end when Demitra got free to take the shot.

The Blues capitalized on a third period power play as they pulled ahead for good. Al MacInnis shot from the point Young deflected it for the goal. Chris Pronger had two assists on the night as the Blues stretched their unbeaten streak to eight games.

Earlier in the day the Blues traded spare defenseman Chris Mcalpine and minor league goalie Rich Parent for exiled Tampa forward Stephane Richer. Richer has been a member of two Stanley Cup winners and has scored fifty goals before. He is a skilled player, but can be fickle at times. The trade should be prosperous for the Blues if Richer can contribute keys goals going down the stretch and into the playoffs.