(My Sportsbook) - Vancouver netminder Dan Cloutier has never been one to shy away from a scrap. However, this year it is his play on the ice that has garnered the most attention.

On Tuesday against the St. Louis Blues, the 26-year-old backstop mixed in a sensational performance with a little bit of scrappiness to lead his Canucks to a 6-3 win.

"As usual he stood on his head and gave us a chance to get back in the game but it's good to see the offense spur on everyone," said Todd Bertuzzi.

Cloutier stopped 25 shots to up his record to 7-5-3 on the season. Asked at times to carry the team, the fiery Cloutier has shined with a .903 save- percentage and a 2.58 goals-against average.

St. Louis stormed out to a two-goal advantage in the first period on Tuesday, but it was the stellar play of Cloutier between the pipes that kept the Canucks in the game. Cloutier stopped Petr Cajanek on a breakaway and Eric Boguniecki, who streaked down the left wing, to keep the margin at two.

"They wait for the perfect opportunity and they had a lot of tough shots tonight," Cloutier, who has started all but one of Vancouver's 16 games this season, said of the Blues. "If they get up early like that, you don't want to give them the third one...it's tough to come back."

Backed by the strong play of its goaltender, Vancouver rallied back and evened the game with goals from Todd Bertuzzi and Artem Chubarov. Todd Warriner, Brendan Morrison, Trevor Letowski and Trevor Linden also lit the lamp for the Canucks, who won at GM Place for the first time since topping San Jose in their opener back on October 12.

"We knew we had to be better at home and I think we were all around," said Morrison, who netted the eventual game-winner at 14:10 of the second period.

Cloutier's night was not just limited to his play in the crease, as he did what he does best and that is get under the skin of opposing players. After agitating St. Louis skaters all game, Cloutier got into a scuffle with Scott Mellanby towards the end of the match.

After a linesman separated the two, Cloutier took a slash at the back of Mellanby's knees and triggered an all-out melee. Cloutier wiggled free of his sweater to get back at Mellanby, and when he couldn't reach him, he clawed into Bryce Salvador.

Cloutier received two minutes for slashing and a 10-minute misconduct.

"He's a fiery guy," Mellanby said. "He competes hard. He'd been going at me there in the game...He's got a way of getting under guys' skin."

Cloutier, who once challenged the entire New York Islanders bench to a brawl while with the Rangers, did not seem to let the fracas bother him.

"You don't always do the right thing every time," Cloutier said. "Sometimes your emotions get the best of you, but I got right back into it and started focusing on my job which is stopping pucks."

WHAT'S AHEAD

The Canucks continue a five-game homestand on Thursday against the LA Kings. The Rangers, Blackhawks, and Red Wings will also visit during the stretch.