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Blues' Tarasenko: Fans shouldn't blame Allen for loss to Jets

Jim McIsaac / Getty Images Sport / Getty

Vladimir Tarasenko has come to the defense of his goaltender.

Following Friday's 4-0 loss to the Winnipeg Jets, the Blues forward was quick to stand behind netminder Jake Allen, who ended the night with just 19 saves and caught the attention of the boo birds at Scottrade Center.

"Me personally, I know how hard (Allen) works, I know how much he's done for the organization and especially this year and last year," Tarasenko told Lou Korac of NHL.com. "I don't understand why people blame the goalies. That's wrong."

Captain Alex Pietrangelo echoed Tarasenko's comments.

"I don't like it. It's been bothering me," Pietrangelo said of the home crowd's reaction to Allen. "I'm not going to say anything about the fans, but it's disappointing to hear that. We've got his back."

While there was at least one goal Friday that Allen would have liked back, the team in front of him did little to produce any offense of its own, and Jets netminder Connor Hellebuyck came away with a shutout.

The Blues have registered just three goals in their past three games.

As for Allen, Friday's loss brings his season record to 19-18-2, coupled with a .906 save percentage.

For the team's Sunday matchup against the Nashville Predators, it's possible that Blues bench boss Mike Yeo could turn to second-stringer Carter Hutton, who owns a 15-6-2 record and .938 save rate this year.

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