Blues and Blackhawks tied 1-1 after two

CHICAGO, Ill. - Ian Cole notched the tying goal as the St. Louis Blues and Chicago Blackhawks enter the second intermission in a 1-1 stalemate.

Cole struck at 12:38 for his second on the year, taking assists from Steve Ott and Patrick Berglund.

After an exchange of passes with Berglund in and out of the right circle, Ott flung the puck from behind the Chicago net to Raanta's right side.

Cole finished the job as the puck slid left, sneaking free from the scrum and into the crease before flicking it past the goalie's left arm to level the contest. 

Though Cole would sit only 1:25 later after interfering with Bryan Bickell.

Jonathan Toews tried Allen from the left side, striking the goalie's stick a minute into the advantage. Brad Richards fired a long range one-timer that caught the side netting to end the 5-on-4 session.

Johnny Oduya ventured two shots within a minute of even hockey, from close range to the goal's right side and again from long range left, both deflected wide by Allen.

Joakim Nordstrom tried a wrap-around chance to Allen's left side that was gloved.

Jake Allen has stopped 25-of-26 shots for the Blues (16-6-2), including all 8 in the middle frame.

Chicago's Jonathan Toews sat two minutes after tripping Paul Stastny at 17:11.

That would send the Blackhawks' 1st-ranked penalty killers on the ice for the fifth time on the night.

With the same results as the previous four as the Blues, owning the 5th-best power-play unit in hockey, went 0-for-5 with the advantage.

Marcus Kruger would also sit two minutes for high-sticking T.J. Oshie in front of the Chicago net after his stick snuck up behind Oshie and struck him in the face.

The two sides exchanged a quick succession of shots-on-goal around the 15-minute mark.

Bryan Bickell's sudden chance from close range was pushed aside by Jake Allen's right pad, and Alex Pietrangelo tried Raanta thirty seconds later on a one-timer that was gloved.

Patrick Kane shot a pass through traffic to Brad Richards from the right circle, but Richards would shoot into Allen's glove.

Richards scored twice in the Blackhawks' 4-1 victory against Los Angeles five days ago.

Marcus Kruger gave Chicago (15-8-1) the goal lead when he fired his 4th this season, assisted by Brandon Saad, who caused a turnover in the neutral zone that gave he and Kruger a 2-on-1 chance on Jake Allen.