Blues Break Team Record

Lightning roster

"I got a couple of good shots away, but the bottom line is it's a big win for us," MacInnis said. "Detroit doesn't seem to want to lose any games. It keeps us focused and sharp. I don't think there is anything wrong to have something to play for at this time of year."

Blues got a scare as All-Star right wing Pavol Demitra was checked hard to the boards from behind by Tampa Bay center Brian Holzinger, who received a major penalty and was ejected.

"The No. 1 thing we're trying to get rid of is this league is hitting from behind. It makes me furious, the lack of respect other players have for players," MacInnis said. "There should be zero tolerance for behavior like this."

The Blues goalie Roman Turek earned his 40th win, but lost the his shutout bid with 4.7 seconds left in the game as Wayne Primeau scored Lightning's lone goal.

"It would have been nice to get the shutout," said St. Louis coach Joel Quenneville. "I think the players have a lot of pride about that, which is good. We got up early, kept our intensity. We weren't casual and that can easily happen in a game like this."

The Lightning, who have won only twice in 13 games (2-10-1), have one goal in the past eight periods.

"That wasn't our best game by a long shot," Lightning coach Steve Ludzik said. "St. Louis is Stanley-Cup bound, there's no question about that. It's like wrestling a gorilla. You don't stop when you want to, you stop when the gorilla wants to."