St Louis Blues on The Hockey News
COLUMN: I can pile on the Blues for finally being eliminated from the playoffs; we won't; I'm actually commending them for lasting as long as they did
ST. LOUIS -- It would be easy to pile on the St. Louis Blues (again) for finally coming to the realization of what we all knew months ago.
In all honesty, this is not a playoff team. I've been writing this in past columns for months now. But it finally took until the penultimate home game for the official ball to drop on their 2023-24 season when the Blues fell 5-2 against the Carolina Hurricanes on Friday, coupled with a Vegas Golden Knights 7-2 win against the Minnesota Wild to officially close the door on what will be a second straight season of non-playoff hockey.
Jordan Binnington (left) defends a play with Blues teammate Scott Perunovich (middle) on Friday against Seth Jarvis (right) and the Carolina Hurricanes.I'm sure Buffalo Sabres fans won't feel sorry in the least for Blues fans, but in reality, this doesn't happen here often. In fact, it'll be the first time since 2009-10 and 2010-11 the Blues will go two straight years without playoff hockey.
There was a sense of walking into the locker room Friday if reality, a somber mood and a feeling of knowing it finally came to an end. But even through some of the what-ifs for the Blues -- who have games remaining against the Seattle Kraken on Sunday and at the Dallas Stars on Wednesday to close things out -- put themselves through, and they'll have plenty of time to be kicking themselves for some of the bad losses that have them in this position. Sure it's real easy to pile on them now.
But not here, not right now, not in this moment.
Had they gone out and curled up in a cocoon and allow the Hurricanes, who I think have a legitimate shot at winning the Stanley Cup this year, beat them into submission, then it would have been a different story in this space. But the Blues knew the odds were stacked against them, and yet they still went out and competed until the last dying breath.
In the end, it simply wasn't enough.
COLUMN: Blues gave it quite the ride all the way to game No. 80, finally run out of steam (5:45)"Certainly I can't fault the effort. Certainly the effort was here from our group tonight," Blues interim coach Drew Bannister said. "We made three mistakes on the first three goals and they made us pay, and that's what good hockey teams do. We certainly created enough offense to grab a lead or separate a little bit more but we failed to kind of cash in on some of the chances that we had."
Isn't that somewhat of a microcosm of the Blues' losses? Create plenty, convert few. I can't fault the effort here tonight either. Carolina is a superior team, so much so that they afforded to sit four players tonight (Jordan Staal, Teuvo Teravainen, Jalen Chatfield and Brett Pesce) and replace them with four more bonafide NHL players, including one (Scott Morrow) making his NHL debut.
"We had some chances," Blues forward Brandon Saad said. "[Frederik Andersen] made some big saves, we didn't capitalize and then you see the final result."
Honestly, I had this bunch written off months ago, and to a certain extent, they proved me wrong. And those that battled are to be commended for that. And the one initial takeaway from covering this team this year is there has been some positive growth from some of the youth the Blues put in situations to gain valuable experience in these situations that will only make them better in the long run.
And then there were the players, through inconsistency and high-end play that believed until they were told that the belief could no longer be valid. Unfortunately for them, that came tonight.
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"Obviously I thought we had a pretty good stretch here," Blues defenseman Colton Parayko said. "I don't know exactly what our record's been, but we've definitely been playing well I think. Maybe there's a couple that we'd like to have back. For some time, we've been playing good hockey and I think we've just got to look forward. We've got a good group in here. Just keep pushing, all the way until the end. A couple more games, win some more games."
The Blues have been in playoff mode for months now. At times, they've excelled like nobody would expect, and at times, they disappointed to no end. And when you have that kind of inconsistency in a league so good, chances are you're not going to be where you want to, on the inside looking out.
"It's been an emotional month, month and a half here," Saad said. "It's been fun hockey. A lot of competing. I think we grew a lot as a team. Obviously a tough result here tonight.
"Any time it's worth doing something it makes it hard coming out on the other end. It's a tough night for sure."
There are many nights you can walk into that Blues locker room and it's a jovial mood. Not tonight, and rightfully so.
Disappointment -- and reality -- finally settled in.
"It's been a lot of ups and downs," Bannister said. "We've found ways to fight our way back into the playoff picture numerous times over the last two months when ... and a lot of it was on us. There were times where we didn't play good hockey and consistently we were able to get ourselves back into it, but I think if you want to be a playoff team, you have to consistently play good hockey through, not only the whole year, but certainly when you come back after Christmas when points are hard to get.
"When I look back at probably that three-week stretch after the All-Star break where we went below .500 really hurt us. You can pick apart the games we lost. I'm sure there's four or five games that we should have won, and that's going to be a learning experience for us that we had opportunities and if we win four or five of those games, that's just in the time that I was here, over an 82-game schedule, all of the sudden we've got over 100 points and we're in a solid playoff spot. There's things obviously to build towards that were positive and things we can take from that were negative that are going to make us a better hockey team moving forward."
It still doesn't take the sting away.
"How can't you be disappointed," Bannister said. "You start training camp in September. A lot of guys are here earlier than that, practices, games, travel, you battle through it to get to this point in the season and then it's kind of ripped away from you. We were a part of that. We have to take ownership in our game and it needs to be better, but certainly we got ourselves in position where we were fighting for the playoffs the last two months. It's tough when you're in a grind, game to game means as much as it did. There were a lot of ups and downs. The next two games are still important for us to continue to build for next year and we want to win hockey games, and I think it's important for us to make sure that Sunday here we take pride in our game and we put on a good performance for the fans that have supported us."
Blues fans will get one last chance to see a team together they most certainly won't see again on Enterprise Center ice in 2024-25. And the Blues will put on one last show for them before they sign off in Dallas on Wednesday. And then one of the more intriguing off-seasons for general manager Doug Armstrong will begin, because he and his management team will be tasked with making the improvements necessary. Start righting some of the wrongs of recent past.
I've said it in previous columns. I'm not sure how much he can change a roster still chalk-full of no-trade clauses next season, but this roster certainly can't look like this moving forward. Or else this feeling they have tonight will repeat itself, and the fans will grow even more angry.
As for some of the promising aspects of this season, we've come to see Jordan Binnington rise up again as one of the elite goalies in the game; Robert Thomas has and is growning into a bonafide No. 1 center; Jake Neighbours leads the next wave of Blues filled with promise; who's not excited about Zack Bolduc, and Parayko showed he has the ability to anchor a strong defensive corps with with the proper support.
ZACK
BOLDUC
HAS
GOALS
IN
THREE
STRAIGHT.#stlblues pic.twitter.com/5zpVyVr2oz
There's intrigue moving forward, but for this Blues group, for as flawed as they were on many occasions, this is likely going to be a 90-plus point team, and if that's considered rock-bottom for this fan base, you will have plenty to look forward to moving forward.
"Us guys in here, no matter what the odds are, kind of where we were at in the season, we never gave up and we won't give up," said Thomas, who reached 60 assists to become the first Blue to do so since Craig Janney (68) in 1993-94. "That's what I'm taking away from this."
Oh, and about Thomas basking in personal accolades, think again. It says a lot what his mindset is, the right mindset.
"It's nice. I would have rather been playing in the playoffs," Thomas said. "You never know what's going to happen here, but I think that's my main priority."
The Blues pulled you in, and as small as the percentages were, they made it exciting until the very end. Unfortunately, a bitter end. At least they had a chance, and that's something nobody imagined from this group even going back as far as when they made a coaching change.
Again, I know it's easy to pile on them now. At least give them a small token of appreciation for keeping flickering hopes alive for as long as they did. I am.
For as flawed a roster as it is, that's quite a feat. Save the piling on for another day.
Related: Blues prospect Peterson agrees to two-year entry-level contract
Blues prospect Peterson agrees to two-year entry-level contract
ST. LOUIS -- The St. Louis Blues have agreed to terms with 2020 third-round pick Dylan Peterson on a two-year entry-level contract.
The 22-year-old forward was the 86th in the 2020 NHL Draft and has spent the past four seasons with Boston University, including playing in the 2024 Frozen Four in St. Paul, Minn. on Thursday, including a 2-1 overtime loss against Denver University; he also was in the Frozen Four last season.
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Peterson, who had 60 points (26 goals, 34 assists) in 119 NCAA regular-season games the past four years, will spend the rest of the season in Springfield of the American Hockey League on an amateur tryout before his pro contract kicks in next season.
The Blues had until Aug. 15 to sign Peterson, or else he would have become an unrestricted free agent.
(4-12-24) Hurricanes-Blues Gameday Lineup
ST. LOUIS -- Going into Game 80 on Friday against the Carolina Hurricanes, the St. Louis Blues continue to hang on by a thread.
That's the margin for error in the Blues' quest to remain alive in the Western Conference wild card chase.
The Blues (42-32-5) will try to remain relevant and alive when they host the Carolina Hurricanes (50-22-7) at 7 p.m. (BSMW, ESPN 101.1-FM).
Morning skate report vs. Hurricanes (4-12-24) (3:45)The formula is simple for the Blues and is outlined as follows: if they lose in any fashion and the Golden Knights defeat the Minnesota Wild tonight in any fashion, Vegas clinches the final Western Conference playoff spot, or if the Blues lose in regulation and Vegas defeats Minnesota in overtime or shootout, that seals the Blues' fate.
Anything else will keep the Blues alive heading into their final home game on Sunday against the Seattle Kraken.
"It's business as usual for us," Blues interim coach Drew Bannister said. "I think we've been playing in these meaningful games for two months, six weeks, however it may have been. I feel like we've played really good hockey against top teams. That hasn't been an issue for us, making sure that we're ready to play from the start and playing a complete game. We have to be ready to play a complete game here tonight."
The fact Carolina still has a division title to play for and/or a top seed in the Eastern Conference makes it doubly tough tonight.
"We know where they're at and we know it's a good hockey team," Bannister said. "They skate, they compete and we're going to have to skate and compete here tonight to be able to stay with them.
"Their size and the way they close, there's not going to be a lot of space out there for us tonight. We're going to have to compete for our space, we're going to have to support each other. We're going to have to simplify our game. We might just have to chip a lot of pucks off the wall and make sure that we're supporting and get pucks behind their 'D' because they're going to be aggressive on us here tonight, whether it's on the walls or through the neutral zone."
- - -
Torey Krug did not take part in the morning skate and will be out tonight with an upper-body injury, replaced in the lineup by Marco Scandella.
Krug left Wednesday's 5-2 win against the Chicago Blackhawks after the second period and did not return; he also did not practice Thursday.
"I would say he's day to day," Bannister said. "Just out for today and we'll see how he feels tomorrow and we'll see how he feels tomorrow and that will dictate obviously with the early game on Sunday, it'll be important for him to be feeling well enough to be playing in that game. Hopefully he can get on the ice and skate with us tomorrow afternoon."
Scandella will play with Tyler Tucker, and Nick Leddy will play alongside Matthew Kessel for the first time, although Bannister said the d-pairings can be fluid.
"I think tonight against a team like Carolina, I don't know if we're going to be stuck with d-pairings," Bannister said. "I think there's probably going to be some movement around there today. It's a little bit different animal than Chicago was. We like the way [Colton] Parayko and 'Perun' [Scott Perunovich] play together and now it gives us an idea, and Scandella and Tucker have played together. This is the first time that they'll play here together."
The forward lines will remain the same as Wednesday, meaning Kevin Hayes will be a healthy scratch for the second straight game and third time in four games.
"I liked the way they played," Bannister said. "I've liked the way they've played over the last two games that we've had, especially in our bottom six last game. I thought that grouping was very good for us."
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Jake Neighbours also did not practice Friday and will miss his third straight game with an upper-body injury. And it's unlikely, even with a practice day on Saturday, that Neighbours, who has 27 goals, to be available for Sunday's home finale against the Kraken, which makes one wonder if the Blues shut him down the rest of the regular season like Justin Faulk (upper body injury).
"I don't want to go that far, but I think we're leaning more towards ... just with the timeline, a 12 o'clock game on a Sunday, it's a lot to ask a player coming off an injury to skate once, if he skates tomorrow too," Bannister said of Neighbours. "Obviously if he doesn't skate tomorrow, he will not be available to us. But it's still a big ask for a player skating once and trying to get into a noon game."
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Oskar Sundqvist (torn right ACL) was at the rink watching practice on crutches, so he's had his surgery completed and not the timeline for recovery and rehab will begin for the Blues forward.
Sundqvist was injured in the second period of a 2-1 overtime loss against the Golden Knights on March 25.
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The Blues' projected lineup:
Zack Bolduc-Robert Thomas-Brayden Schenn
Brandon Saad-Pavel Buchnevich-Jordan Kyrou
Alexey Toropchenko-Zach Dean-Kasperi Kapanen
Nathan Walker-Nikita Alexandrov-Sammy Blais
Scott Perunovich-Colton Parayko
Nick Leddy-Matthew Kessel
Marco Scandella-Tyler Tucker
Jordan Binnington will start in goal; Joel Hofer will be the backup.
The healthy scratch includes Kevin Hayes. Justin Faulk (upper body) is week to week; Jake Neighbours (upper body) and Torey Krug (upper body) each is day to day but out tonight; Oskar Sundqvist (torn right ACL) is out for the season.
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The Hurricanes' projected lineup:
Jake Guentzel-Sebastian Aho-Seth Jarvis
Jordan Martinook-Evgeny Kuznetsov-Martin Necas
Andrei Svechnikov-Jordan Staal-Teuvo Teravainen
Stefan Noesen-Jack Drury-Jesper Fast
Jaccob Slavin-Brent Burns
Brady Skjei-Brett Pesce
Dmitry Orlov-Jalen Chatfield
Frederik Andersen is projected to start in goal; Pyotr Kochetkov would be the backup.
Healthy scratches include Brendan Lemieux, Jesperi Kotkaniemi, Tony DeAngelo, Scott Morrow, Spencer Martin and Bradly Nadeau. The Hurricanes report no injuries.
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Blues player to watch vs. Hurricanes: Robert Thomas
ST. LOUIS -- Robert Thomas has gladly accepted challenges all season long.
For the St. Louis Blues center Friday against the Carolina Hurricanes, it will be no exception.
Blues player to watch vs. Hurricanes: Robert Thomas (2:13)Not only will Thomas be tasked with trying to shut down/limit the production of Carolina's top line with Sebastian Aho and Jake Guentzel, he is back to producing offensively again.
Aho leads Carolina with 87 points on the season, and Guentzel has 22 points (six goals, 16 assists) in 16 games since being acquired from the Pittsburgh Penguins.
Thomas has eight points the past three games (two goals, six assists), all multipoint games and he has a four-game point streak (two goals, seven assists) after going through a stretch of just one assist in seven games.
Thomas has seemed to click lately playing with Brayden Schenn and rookie Zack Bolduc and will need to add a multi-dimension game again for the Blues (42-32-5), who will try and stay in the playoff hunt against a very tough opponent in the Hurricanes (50-22-7).
For Bolduc, Dean, other younger players in Blues organization, playoff push-type games so meaningful
MARYLAND HEIGHTS, Mo. -- No matter what happens between now and Wednesday when the regular season comes to a close for the St. Louis Blues, the fact that the organization has been able to implement a number of their younger players and prospects into meaningful games down the stretch here will carry a long torch for the future.
Even if the Blues (42-32-5) miss the playoffs, which still seems likely despite jumping into the rear view mirrors of both the Vegas Golden Knights and Los Angeles Kings (three points and four points, respectively) with three games remaining, the fact that the coaching staff has been able to implement these players into impactful games, giving them some great knowledge at such a young a age just what playoff-intense type games are, will be so beneficial as these players gain experience.
Forward Zach Bolduc (76), a 2021 first-round pick, not only is gaining valuable experience playing meaningful games for the Blues down the stretch, he's contributing in a top-line role."I think it's great experience for these players. It really is," Blues interim coach Drew Bannister said Thursday. "Not only to be here and be a part of it and be a big part of playing meaningful minutes. You saw that over the last three games with [Zack] Bolduc and with [Zach] Dean and with 'Kess' [Matthew Kessel], [Tyler] Tucker, [Scott] Perunovich have all played meaningful minutes. They've played good hockey for us and they've done some good things to help us win hockey games. I think any time that you can give your younger players, whether it's in the American (Hockey) League at this time of year and into the playoffs that they can play these, it only makes them better players and it just makes them more ready to play in these types of games. These are important and this is what playoff hockey is about. Right now, we're playing in playoff hockey games against teams that are getting ready to make runs for a Stanley Cup. This is good hockey for these guys to be a part of."
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Bolduc is learning. Dean is learning. Kessel is learning. Perunovich, who played playoff games two seasons ago, is learning. Tucker is learning. Nikita Alexandrov is learning. Joel Hofer is learning. Jake Neighbours is learning. Heck, even veteran Nathan Walker, who has just five games of playoff experience, is learning.
These are games than when the Blues are actually better than they are right now, they'll have the know-how to push the franchise over the top in situations like these when the pressure mounts and the intensity ramps through the roof.
"These are important games; we're not done yet," Bolduc said. "For myself, I try to get better every day trying to learn from the veterans and listen to the coaches. ... Since I've been here, it's been kind of a playoff race. The tempo is pretty high and the guys are dialed in. It's pretty fun to be a part of this and for me, it's just to get better every day and try and learn from these guys.
"It's valuable for everyone here. We have a lot of young guys that are in the lineup. I think it's good for us. It gives us some experience and it's coming with wins too. It feels good to get some 'W's here."
It helps that most of, if not all, these guys come from winning backgrounds and winning cultures and has made this an easier transition to perform in pressure games at the NHL level.
Bolduc just came off winning a Quebec Major Junior Hockey League and Memorial Cup with Quebec; Dean was part of a winning club with Gatineau, a junior club that lost to Bolduc and the Remparts last season; Kessel won a NCAA title with the University of Massachussetts, and Perunovich also won a NCAA title with the University of Minnesota-Duluth.
"It says a lot about those players, where they've come from and been in good organizations and have been a part of winning hockey clubs," Bannister said. "Having that pedigree coming to pro hockey only sets you up for success and builds you and gets you ready to have success moving forward with a National Hockey League team and playing pro games and playing meaningful games. I think that's a big part of probably why they go into the games and they look very comfortable. They don't look nervous right now. They're going out and they're playing their game."
It sure beats coming to the rink these days not just playing out the string. Many of these guys could be in the shoes of some high-end prospects that are going through tough times in the early going. They faced one with Connor Bedard and the Chicago Blackhawks last night.
Playing meaningful games down the stretch of the 2023-24 season has proven to be greatly beneficial for younger Blues players, including goalie Joel Hofer (30) and defenseman Scott Perunovich."From both sides, they're still going out there and they're still trying to compete," Dean said. "I know it's tougher for some of those teams. We're in this push right now, this race. It just makes it so much more fun when you get into those kind of games, those meaningful kind of games, it's just like a different game almost. It's kind of hard to describe the feeling when you get in. Obviously getting into the playoffs and playing against 'Boldy'. When you're getting into those, you're not even thinking about anything else. It's just the game. It's a pretty crazy feeling honestly."
Bolduc, who has four goals and three assists in 22 games including his first multipoint game in the NHL on Wednesday, is getting minutes with Robert Thomas and Brayden Schenn; Dean, who has played in just six games, centered a third line Wednesday; Perunovich is getting top-pair minutes with Colton Parayko; Hofer is tag-teaming with Jordan Binnington to give the Blues a top-five save percentage goalie duo; Tucker is making his presence felt with Nick Leddy, and Kessel has been garnering top-four minutes since his recall Dec. 30.
"They've been making that push here, so just to see how the guys all handle this in these situations, and even now, we're not done yet," Dean said. "These games are important, the last ones that we've got left. It's pretty cool being here and experiencing that. ... Any experience you can get, especially it being the NHL and being the regular season and you're around the guys this time of year, it's just going to benefit you in so many ways, especially moving forward into next year. You get that feel of regular season and how everything works, and also now, getting towards the end and what it's like."
Related: Neighbours ruled out Friday, Krug questionable against Hurricanes
Neighbours ruled out Friday, Krug questionable against Hurricanes
MARYLAND HEIGHTS, Mo. -- Jake Neighbours has been ruled out for a third straight game for the St. Louis Blues with an upper-body injury.
The forward, who was injured in a second-period game last Saturday against the San Jose Sharks, participated in the morning skate prior to a 5-2 win against the Chicago Blackhawks on Wednesday.
Blues defenseman Torey Krug (47) gets congratulated by goalie Joel Hofer after scoring Wednesday in a 5-2 win against the Chicago Blackhawks. Krug is did not play the third period due to an upper-body injury and is questionable Friday against the Carolina Hurricanes.Blues interim coach Drew Bannister said Neighbours, who is tied on the team for second with 27 goals, is listed as day to day but with him not skating during an optional on Thursday, it was obvious he would likely miss a third straight game.
"I would think yesterday with the skate, he wasn't feeling the way we were hoping he would feel, so I think today was just keep him off the ice and give him an extra day's rest," Bannister said. "I would rule him out tomorrow."
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Also, defenseman Torey Krug is questionable for the game against the Carolina Hurricanes on Friday.
Krug, who scored Wednesday, sustained an upper-body injury and did not play in the third period against the Blackhawks. He was also absent from Thursday's skate.
"I don't want to say good, but I think he is day to day," Bannister said. "I don't want to rule him out or say that he is playing tomorrow. We'll just evaluate him. He didn't go out on the ice today. It was an optional day, so that wouldn't be unusual for him not to go out on the ice. We'll see how he feels tomorrow and we'll make a call on that."
Related: Blues player of the game vs. Blackhawks: Jordan Kyrou
Blackhawks-Blues takeaways: Early four-goal outburst seals deal for St. Louis against Chicago; Kyrou scores twice to extend point streak; Thomas has third straight multipoint game; Bolduc gets first multipoint game in NHL
ST. LOUIS -- It took some time, game No. 79 as a matter of fact, but the St. Louis Blues took care of business against a team they came into a game they were supposed to beat, and did so early and handily.
The Blues faced the Chicago Blackhawks on Wednesday and put their I-55 division rivals out of their misery early with a four-goal output in a span of 4:55 in the game's first 6:59 of a 5-2 win at Enterprise Center.
Blackhawks-Blues takeaways (4-10-24) (7:14)Jordan Kyrou paved the way with two goals to extend his point streak to four games; Robert Thomas had a goal and an assist to extend his point streak to four games and third straight multipoint game; and Zack Bolduc had his first multipoint game in the NHL with a goal and an assist.
The Blues (42-32-5) became the second team on record (since 2009-10) to score a goal on each of their first four shots of a game since the Vancouver Canucks did against the Edmonton Oilers on May 6, 2021. It's the third-fastest four goals to start a game in franchise history: 6:41 on Feb. 6, 1973 against the Canucks and 6:58 on April 4, 2019 against the Philadelphia Flyers.
"Obviously we had a real good start to that game and got rewarded, broke the game open pretty quickly," Blues interim coach Drew Bannister said. "Good to see our guys come out with that kind of urgency to start the game."
"That was pretty quick. I didn't know," Bolduc said. "Someone told me after the game it was four goals on four shots. That's pretty quick. Yeah, we had a good start and I think we got a little bit sloppy in the second, but we found our legs back in the third."
The win, coupled with a Vegas Golden Knights 5-1 loss against the Edmonton Oilers, pulled the Blues within three points of Vegas for the second wild card in the Western Conference, and four points behind the Los Angeles Kings, who lead the Golden Knights by one point for third place in the Pacific Division.
The Blues have three games left; Vegas has four and Los Angeles has four, so going into Game No. 80 on Friday against Carolina, the Blues are still alive.
"Yeah, it's a good feeling," Kyrou said. "Obviously you can't control the outcome of what happens to the other teams, but we can control what we do, right? That's all we're focused on right now."
Let's take a look at the key plays:
* Score fast, score often -- The Blackhawks (23-50-5) seemed quite content with playing an open style, up-and-down game.
Bad idea.
Kyrou took advantage right off the hop when he beat Petr Mrazek with a breakaway goal 2:04 into the game for a 1-0 Blues lead.
Joel Hofer, who made 18 saves for the win in his first action against the Blackhawks, quick-upped a puck to Nick Leddy, whose stretch pass was right in stride for Kyrou to break in from the blue line before burying a wrister blocker side.
JORDAN KYROU GOT BEHIND EVERYBODY!!! #stlblues pic.twitter.com/abgrq4PCv3
— St. Louis Blues (@StLouisBlues) April 11, 2024"It just all happened so fast," Kyrou said. "Just kind of instinct."
Kyrou made it 2-0 41 seconds later off a 2-on-1 with Brandon Saad.
The Blues efficiently moved the puck from the defensive zone with Pavel Buchnevich, who picked up his 400th NHL point with an assist, to Saad, who found Kyrou. Kyrou looked Saad's way before wiring a wrister from the left circle once again on the blocker side.
Jordan Kyrou is scoring faster than we can clip the highlights. #stlblues pic.twitter.com/G4ERD49qUo
— St. Louis Blues (@StLouisBlues) April 11, 2024"I was trying to pass him the whole time and then last second, I decided to shoot," Kyrou said. "... Obviously it feels great. It gives you a good confidence boost the rest of the game."
The Blues didn't stop there.
Torey Krug, who did not play the third period with an undisclosed injury, made it 3-0 when his wrister from the blue line had eyes and got through traffic at 4:37.
Short night of work for the goalie. #stlblues pic.twitter.com/fZtM5qLqhm
— St. Louis Blues (@StLouisBlues) April 11, 2024The goal chased Mrazek from the game without making a save. On the flip side, Hofer had more assists (one) than Mrazek had saves (zero), which is so uncommon even for getting pulled from the game.
And finally, Bolduc made it 4-0 at 6:59, on some slick passing with Thomas and Brayden Schenn, who had two assists. It was the first shot faced by Arvid Soderblom.
ok for real guys our highlight crew can't keep up. #stlblues pic.twitter.com/bGmEd8jQfp
— St. Louis Blues (@StLouisBlues) April 11, 2024"You try to be ahead of the game, but with these guys, you never know where it's going to go," Bolduc said. "You've always got to put your stick on the ice and be ready. Everyone's in the right place at the right time, so it makes the game so much easier.
"... Playing with 'Tommer' and 'Schenner' makes my game so much easier."
It was pretty much game over from that moment on.
The Blackhawks had little to nothing early, were outshot 9-1 in the period.
“What needs to be said? I don't think anything needs to be said," a disgruntled Chicago forward Jason Dickinson said. "It was an embarrassing first period. One shot, maybe three shot attempts, we were down 4-0. What words need to be said?"
Nothing sir. Absolutely nothing.
* Sloppy second -- The Blues played casual with the puck in the second period, and that's natural, in a sense, protecting a four-goal lead.
There was open ice, there was space to claim. The Blues just weren't as crisp with the puck as they were in the first. Fortunately for them, it didn't matter.
But Philipp Kurashev broke the ice for Chicago to make it 4-1 at 8:40 of the second when he worked a puck to Kevin Korchinski breaking in, the defenseman missed the net, but fortunately for the Blackhawks, Kurashev corralled the puck and tucked it into the open right side after Korchinski's shot caromed off the back boards.
* Tucker rocks Bedard -- Tyler Tucker made his entrance into the game noticeable when he laid a good, hard, clean shoulder check on Chicago budding star Connor Bedard along the d-zone boards that drew the ire of Chicago's Alex Vlasic, who went after Tucker at 18:31 of the second.
Tyler Tucker greets Connor Bedard, then drops the gloves. #stlblues
📺: Bally Sports | 📱: Bally Sports app pic.twitter.com/V78hH7i60L
"It wasn't the most intense game, I wouldn't say, but he played very hard tonight," Schenn said of Tucker. "He made big hits, finished his checks. Obviously got in a little scrum there. That's a guy that's trying to prove himself and he played extremely well tonight."
* Thomas strikes -- Thomas and Schenn worked it well and Thomas finished off Schenn's one-timer for a 5-1 lead at 10:01 of the third period.
Bolduc made a nice entry pass into the zone, Thomas found Schenn for a one-timer, and doing what's necessary, Thomas drove the net for a rebound and found the loose puck and deposited it into the net.
We're off that pace of 36 goals but 5 ain't bad. #stlblues pic.twitter.com/p1C5acPcvr
— St. Louis Blues (@StLouisBlues) April 11, 2024* Congrats rookie -- We'll give kudos to Blackhawks rookie Taylor Slaggert for scoring his first NHL goal at 16:51 to make the score 5-2.
Slaggert, playing in his 12th game, made a nice move around the right edge and beat Hofer over the shoulder.
But this was about the start for the Blues, who took care of business when they had to and unlike games against San Jose and Columbus, put a team away they were supposed to beat.
"You should never quit until you see eliminated beside your name," Schenn said. "Right now, we don't see that. I think after the Nashville game there (last Thursday, a 6-3 loss), we still fully believe in this locker room that we can at least have a chance. We obviously know we need a lot of help along the way, but hey, these games mean something right now and we'll keep on fighting. As long as we take care of our part, we'll at least put a little pressure on them."
The only downer to the game was Krug, who did not return for the third period with an undisclosed injury. Bannister said postgame there was no update.
Related: Blues player of the game vs. Blackhawks: Jordan Kyrou
Blues player of the game vs. Blackhawks: Jordan Kyrou
ST. LOUIS -- Those first two shots that resulted in goals by Jordan Kyrou are a clear indication of where the St. Louis Blues forward's confidence level is at right right now.
Kyrou got the ball rolling on a Blues blitzkrieg that resulted in four goals on four shots to start the game in a 5-2 win against the Chicago Blackhawks on Wednesday at Enterprise Center.
Blues player of the game vs. Blackhawks: Jordan Kyrou (2:14)Kyrou now has seven points (four goals, three assists) in a four-game point streak and took over the team lead with goal nos. 28 and 29 on the season and has nine goals the past 13 games.
"I just feel more confident lately," Kyrou said. "Just my compete away from the puck. Just winning battles and competing hard, skating hard away from the puck and then the rest kind of just happens."
When Kyrou is mindful away from the puck, good things happen when he gets it, and right now, good things are happening, and the shot is instinctual again.
"He's shooting the puck really well," Blues interim coach Drew Bannister said of Kyrou. "He's found a lot of space out there, he's using his speed. It was a good game for him.
"I think overall, over the past three or four games, he's been real competitive. Obviously he's feeling real confident in his game right now."
Kyrou finished tied with Brayden Schenn with four shots on goal on 10 attempts in 17:12 and was a plus-2.
"I think for me, it's always been like this the past couple years," Kyrou said. 'I find when my game's not going well, I've got to kind of go back to basics and keep it simple, play strong without the puck and then everything with the puck happens."
(4-10-24) Blackhawks-Blues Gameday Lineup
ST. LOUIS -- There's still a pulse.
Until someone tells the St. Louis Blues they are no longer in the hunt for the Stanley Cup Playoffs, they must treat each and every game in front of them like it's life-or-death in hockey terms.
Morning skate report vs. Blackhawks (4-10-24) (3:03)That's the challenge when the Blues (41-32-5) open their final homestand of the season when they host the Chicago Blackhawks (23-49-5) at 7 p.m. (BSMW, ESPN 101.1-FM).
The scenario is as such: the Blues trail the Vegas Golden Knights by five points with four games left; Vegas has five games, including one tonight against the Edmonton Oilers. The Golden Knights will clinch a playoff berth If they defeat the Oilers in regulation and the Blues lose to the Blackhawks in any fashion, or if Vegas defeats the Edmonton in overtime or shootout and the Blues lose to the Blackhawks in regulation.
The Los Angeles Kings will clinch a playoff berth if the Blues lose to the Blackhawks in regulation.
But if the Blues win tonight and the Golden Knights lose in regulation, this will get quirky again and draw the Blues within three points with three games left.
"We're really just focused on competing," Blues defenseman Matthew Kessel said. "We'd obviously like to be in a better position where there would be a bigger chance, but all you can do is just compete every game and go out and win games. That's what we want to do every game."
The Blues conclude their season with home games tonight, Friday against Carolina and Sunday against Seattle before closing out the regular season a week from tonight in Dallas. They understand their plight.
"We have to play to win hockey games and then hope that some other team stumbled down the road here," Blues interim coach Drew Bannister said. "We can't factor into that. We have to take care of our hockey games and with games especially at home here, I think our fans deserve that and we want to make sure we take pride in our hockey game when we come here Wednesday, Friday and Sunday."
- - -
The Blues will make Kevin Hayes a healthy scratch for the second time in three games after the center played in the first 76 games of the season.
It's not only a question of getting younger players into the lineup, such as Zach Dean and Nikita Alexandrov, Zack Bolduc and such, but also needing more from those veteran players.
"I think from 'Haysie', we need more from him," Bannister said. "I think what we said before, we're looking to put veteran players with younger players and we expect our veteran guys to do the right thing and lead by example. And I felt in that game, especially late in the first period that 'Haysie' made a decision that we wouldn't want any of our players to make. I expect him to be better and he is a better hockey player. I think he expects better from himself so tonight, he'll be able to sit back and watch, but I wouldn't expect him to be out of the lineup too long here."
- - -
Jake Neighbours was on the ice for the morning skate, but the forward will not play tonight, his second straight game missed, due to a head injury following a check from San Jose Sharks Luke Kunin in the second period on Saturday that got defenseman Justin Faulk (week to week; upper body injury) injured on the ensuing fight.
"We're just kind of working him back in, so today was the first time that he was on the ice," Bannister said of Neighbours. "We'll see how that goes today and then we'll progress him and obviously if it goes well, we'll progress him into practice tomorrow and hopefully some contact."
- - -
Scott Perunovich and Tyler Tucker continue to get looks being paired with veteran defensemen.
Perunovich played with Colton Parayko on Sunday in Anaheim, and Tucker was paired with Nick Leddy and they'll proceed like this again tonight.
"I think they've played really well," Bannister said. "I really liked 'Perun's game last game. I thought he was outstanding in the way he moved the puck. 'Tucks' again, I think he's had three really strong games for us physically. That was kind of our plan with our forward group and our D-group to get them veteran presence to guide the way and make sure that they're doing the right things and that the young guys are doing the work too."
- - -
As for Kessel, who has grabbed a plethora of responsibilities since his initial recall on Dec. 30 this season, he's adding penalty kill time to his role.
"These last couple games, I think we've gotten it a little bit more," Kessel said. "Obviously getting some PK minutes has been good for me. Up here it's a little different obviously. It's a little bit different of a kill structure. You're playing against NHL power plays and top skill on those is quite different."
It's a role in which Bannister used the right-handed defenseman in while he was coaching Kessel in Springfield of the American Hockey League earlier in the season, so the comfort level is there.
"I think for 'Kess', that's going to be part of his game at the NHL level. I think when we made some adjustments to his game at the American League level. That was one thing that we focused on with him is wehad him a little bit on the power play at one point. In killing, we just wanted him to focus on being a (penalty) killer, a shutdown guy. I think with how he's played here and the transition, it's good to start giving him more right now and see how he does with it."
- - -
The Blues projected lineup:
Zack Bolduc-Robert Thomas-Brayden Schenn
Brandon Saad-Pavel Buchnevich-Jordan Kyrou
Alexey Toropchenko-Zach Dean-Kasperi Kapanen
Nathan Walker-Nikita Alexandrov-Sammy Blais
Scott Perunovich-Colton Parayko
Torey Krug-Matthew Kessel
Nick Leddy-Tyler Tucker
Joel Hofer will start in goal; Jordan Binnington will be the backup.
Healthy scratches include Kevin Hayes and Marco Scandella. Justin Faulk (upper body) is week to week and will likely miss the rest of the regular season; Jake Neighbours (upper body) is out, day to day; Oskar Sundqvist (torn right ACL) is out for the season.
- - -
The Blackhawks' projected lineup:
Lukas Reichel-Connor Bedard-Philipp Kurashev
Tyler Johnson-Andreas Athanasiou-Taylor Raddysh
Colin Blackwell-Jason Dickinson-Joey Anderson
Ryan Donato-MacKenzie Entwistle-Landon Slaggert
Alex Vlasic-Seth Jones
Kevin Korchinski-Jaycob Megna
Jarred Tinordi-Nikita Zaitsev
Petr Mrazek will start in goal; Arvid Soderblom will be the backup.
Healthy scratches include Nick Foligno and Wyatt Kaiser. Connor Murphy (groin)and Reese Johnson (concussion) are out.
Related: Blues player to watch vs. Blackhawks: Zack Bolduc
Related: Faulk done for rest of regular season, Neighbours day to day, each with upper-body injuries
Blues player to watch vs. Blackhawks: Zack Bolduc
ST. LOUIS -- With the St. Louis Blues still mathematically alive for the Western Conference wild card, there still has been a shift from playing a veteran-laden lineup to getting a look at the future.
One skater who continues to take advantage of those opportunities is Zack Bolduc.
Blues player to watch vs. Blackhawks: Zack Bolduc (2:31)With Jake Neighbours sidelined with an upper-body injury, Bolduc has stepped into a role as a top-line winger with Robert Thomas and continues to excel in whatever role the coaching staff puts him in.
He scored his third NHL goal 11 seconds into a 6-5 shootout win against the Anaheim Ducks on Sunday and had an NHL career-high 16:37 ice time; he's scored twice in the past five games.
There are a number of variants playing to Bolduc's advantage and the offense he is touted to have isn't necessarily all anyone's talking about.
"It's just the evolution of a young player coming to the NHL and finding a place and where they fit," Blues interim coach Drew Bannister said. "I still would like to see the player shoot it a little bit more and we see on that first shift in Anaheim when he does shoot the puck how effective he is.
"I've just liked his energy he's bringing. For a player that has been tabbed as a skill guy, he's working, he's getting in on the forecheck, he's using his ability to put pressure on the puck. I've been really impressed with how he's adapted to defending at this level. That's one of the hardest things to do for a younger player and young skill player is to adapt to being able to defend. I think it goes to show a lot about who he is as a person, the character, how he cares about his game (and) he cares about his teammates."
Related: Faulk done for rest of regular season, Neighbours day to day, each with upper-body injuries
Faulk done for rest of regular season, Neighbours day to day, each with upper-body injuries
MARYLAND HEIGHTS, Mo. -- It looks like Justin Faulk's season is done, and Jake Neighbours is day today.
Neighbours will not play Wednesday for the St. Louis Blues against the Chicago Blackhawks after he was injured midway through the second period of a 3-2 overtime loss against the San Jose Sharks on Saturday.
Neighbours was injured when he was checked by Chesterfield's Luke Kunin into the boards along the Blues bench and his head snapped back hitting the top of the it.
Blues forward Jake Neighbours, who is tied with Pavel Buchnevich and Jordan Kyrou for the team lead in goals with 27, is day to day but will not play Wednesday against the Chicago Blackhawks.Robert Edwards-USA TODAY Sports
Neighbours was watching practice on Tuesday but did not skate.
"As of today, he's feeling normal," Blues interim coach Drew Bannister said of Neighbours, who is tied for the team lead in goals with 27. "Obviously yes, we're going to be cautious and we'll go through the protocols of getting him back on the ice here working out, getting back on the ice and then skates with us."
Faulk is considered week to week and is likely out for the rest of the regular season after confronting Kunin and getting in a fight with the Chesterfield native.
View the original article to see embedded media.
"I think he's week to week. We want to be cautious with his injury," Bannister said of Faulk. "Even if this was two months ago, it would still be week to week with him. It is what it is.
"With a week left right now, and pending how we play and other teams play around us, that could be extended, so there is a possibility he could be back in the lineup with our season being extended, but we'll see how that plays out."
Blues defenseman Justin Faulk (72) was injured on this altercation with Chesterfield native and Sharks forward Luke Kunin on Saturday.Robert Edwards-USA TODAY Sports
It's been a tough go with Faulk, who had separate stints out with injury this season related to an ankle.
"Unfortunate. He jumps in to stick up for a teammate and gets himself hurt," Bannister said. "Certainly we missed him when he was out with that length of time with his ankle injury and we'll miss him again here down the stretch."
Faulk will finish the season with just 30 points (two goals, 28 assists) in 60 games after he had 50 points (12 goals, 38 assists) in 82 games last season.
Blues-Ducks takeaways: Robert Thomas was back to his old self; Jordan Kyrou continues to produce, including scoring shootout winner; Kessel nets first NHL goal; St. Louis wins old-fashioned pond hockey game
If you like pond hockey, the Honda Center in Anaheim, Calif. was the place to be.
The St. Louis Blues and Anaheim Ducks were in a taking mood on Sunday night. Each was more than willing to take what the opposition was giving them.
It was a game in which had a little bit of everything, but the one featured attraction was a track meet.
Blues-Ducks takeaways (4-7-24) (9:30)In the end, the Blues prevailed 6-5 in a shootout when Jordan Kyrou scored the lone goal in the skills competition, and Jordan Binnington denied Troy Terry on Anaheim's final shooter.
Robert Thomas led the way with a goal and four assists, tying his season-high for points in a game; he also set a personal season-high for points, surpassing the 77 he has in 2021-22, and joined a trio of others to reach 80 points in a season since 2000. Kyrou also had three assists to give him 15 points (seven goals, eight assists) the past 12 games; Brayden Schenn scored in his fourth goal in four games and had an assist, and Matthew Kessel scored his first NHL goal in his 37th game.
For a change on this trip, the Blues (41-32-5) won the special teams' battle, going 2-for-3 with the man advantage, and 2-for-2 on the penalty kill, although Anaheim (25-48-5) scored one second after a power play had expired.
Let's take a look at the key points in the game, and there were plenty of them:
* Bolduc bursts through -- It didn't take long for the Blues to break the ice when Zack Bolduc tied the NHL mark for fastest goal this season and sixth-fastest goal to start a game in Blues history when he made it 1-0 just 11 seconds into the game.
After the opening draw and the puck going across the blue line into the Blues' zone, Colton Parayko turned and whipped a puck off the glass into the neutral zone springing a 3-on-2 break with Thomas getting the puck. He fed Bolduc with speed along the left side, and the rookie beat Lukas Dostal from the left circle with a wrister, his third NHL goal.
THAT. WAS. QUICK. 👀 Zack Bolduc scores 11 seconds into the game. #stlblues
Watch on the Bally Sports app, brought to you by @BommaritoAuto. pic.twitter.com/0depVp6PMM
* Ducks hunting -- The Ducks didn't seem to be flustered by the early goal allowed. Anaheim focused on getting bodies to the net and were able to equalize when Nikita Nesterenko was on the doorstep and put home a close-range rebound by Binnington at 2:37 to tie the game 1-1.
Parayko didn't handle the player at the net After Gustav Lindstrom threw a wrister towards a crowded net.
* Binnington to the rescue -- Binnington was called on to keep it a 1-1 game when he lunged out the left pad to stop two Ryan Strome attempts at 11:02 and 11:03.
* One to remember -- It was a matter of time for Matthew Kessel. The rookie defenseman finally removed the monkey on his back and scored his first NHL goal, at 12:36 to make it 2-1.
Schenn did the grunt work when he won a wall battle, pushing the puck to Thomas in the zone, and Thomas found Kessel coming into the zone, and he wired a wrister past Dostal.
FIRST NHL GOAL! 🚨 Matthew Kessel will certainly remember this one. #stlblues
Watch on the Bally Sports app, brought to you by @BommaritoAuto. pic.twitter.com/Ip6Op2rton
* Binnington to the rescue (again) -- The Blues would get their first power play of the game with three seconds left in the period, but prior to it, Binnington was bust making a breakaway save on Strome with 41 seconds left before Strome would go to the box for boarding.
Binnington: A breakaway blocker! #stlblues
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The Blues came out of the opening 20 minutes ahead 2-1 but down on the shot clock 15-10 in a wildly spirited period.
* Weird luck goes against the Blues -- It was a tough tying goal to give up when Frank Vatrano scored the first of two goals at 3:39 to make it a 2-2 game, but the breakdown was glaring if you're the Blues, who found themselves with three skaters (Torey Krug, Kessel and Thomas) all caught below the goal line, leaving Alex Killorn alone to be able to get a puck, take it to the front.
Binnington made the initial save, but Vatrano was there to get a piece of the rebound, and unfortunately in his haste to swipe the puck out of danger while on his back, Binnington swiped it into his net.
* Ding, ding, ding -- It got to a boxing-level kind of moment when Tyler Tucker took the butt end of Ross Johnston's stick for a penalty, but Nathan Walker took exception to Johnson catching his teammate and called him out on it at 13:07.
Johnson didn't appreciate the dig and took a jab at Walker right in front of Binnington, who took exception and half swung and slung Johnston protecting his teammate that had the makings of quite the brouhaha.
Johnston and Binnington each picked up roughing minors, but the Blues came away with the power play.
They would cash in on it to go up 3-2 at 13:36 when Thomas would get a puck from Krug off the wall, spin into the right circle and beat Dostal with a low wrister.
Robert Thomas! On the power play! Blues back in front once again. #stlblues
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* Buch doubles the lead -- Pavel Buchnevich, who was the player to watch heading into the game, was on the receiving end of a well-timed zone entry, Scott Perunovich getting the puck to Kyrou, who fed Buchnevich in the right circle for a one-timer on the short side for a 4-2 lead at 15:50.
Buchnevich buries it!! Blues add to their lead in SoCal. #stlblues
📺: Bally Sports | 📱: Bally Sports app pic.twitter.com/vNYzdRt0hj
The Blues would be on good shape heading into the third up 4-2 but when Tucker was called for holding the stick at 19:01, it was an important kill to get through.
* Technically-speaking -- The Blues managed to get through the kill technically, but Leo Carlsson, the second pick in the 2023 NHL Draft, benefitted from a broken play and scored at 1:02 to make it a 4-3 game, a play in which Isac Lundestrom found Carlsson open in the slot with Walker in the vicinity, but the forward was offering little resistance.
* Power play strikes again -- The Blues were about to restore their two-goal lead when Kyrou and Brandon Saad headed the other way on a 2-on-1, but Vatrano caught up to Kyrou, who would have likely buried a Saad pass, and interfered with Kyrou at 1:51.
The Blues would get their second man-advantage marker of the game when Schenn scored his fourth goal in four games at 2:40 to make it a 5-3 game, swatting home Kyrou's pass at the right side of the post.
The captain comes through on the power play! Five goals for the notes. #stlblues
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* Is the lead safe -- The Blues have been good at locking down third-period leads, but with playing so many of the younger players, the lead disappeared.
Vatrano made it 5-4 at 8:04 on a backhand from the slot, open from a pass behind the net as the Blues once again had too many skaters at or below the goal line and left the slot vulnerable. This time, it was the fourth line on the ice with Walker, Sammy Blais and Nikita Alexandrov, who appeared lost in coverage.
That line was on the ice again and victimized in the same area when Carlsson tied it 5-5 at 16:09 scoring from the slot.
Neither team had really any prime scoring chances in the overtime, so a skills competition would decide who gets the second point.
* Kyrou, Binnington salvage second point -- Kyrou would put the Blues ahead 1-0 on their first shootout attempt going to the backhand and scoring over the right pad of Dostal after Trevor Zegras opened the shootout by hitting the cross bar.
Jordan Kyrou scores in the shootout! It holds up as the game-winner! #stlblues pic.twitter.com/o6R4vJY6An
— Bally Sports Midwest (@BallySportsMW) April 8, 2024Binnington would also make saves on Carlsson and Troy Terry after Schenn missed on his chance to end it after the second round.
That'll do it! Jordan Binnington and the Blues get the job done in the shootout! #stlblues pic.twitter.com/ozdKG1gUgt
— Bally Sports Midwest (@BallySportsMW) April 8, 2024With the win, the Blues kept their slim playoff hopes alive, keeping the Nashville Predators from clinching.
The Blues now trail the Vegas Golden Knights by five points for the second wild card in the Western Conference but have played two more games. They open their final homestand -- three games -- of the regular season on Wednesday against the Chicago Blackhawks.
Related: Blues player of the game vs. Ducks: Robert Thomas
Related: Kessel scores first NHL goal against Ducks
Related: Thomas joins elite group of Blues with 80 or more points since turn of century
Blues player of the game vs. Ducks: Robert Thomas
There was a stretch of hockey recently where Robert Thomas wasn't himself.
The St. Louis Blues' No. 1 center went through a stretch of seven games from March 19-April 1 with just one assist and didn't look the part.
He has three assists on this road trip that completed on Sunday against the Anaheim Ducks and appeared to be making more of his usual impact once again.
Blues player of the game vs. Ducks: Robert Thomas (3:02)The Hockey News learned that Thomas had fallen ill and likely played a role in his slumping play, but the 24-year-old played through whatever was bothering him. He looked like his old self matching his season-best with four points (one goal, three assists), reached a personal career-high in points and became just the fourth Blue to reach 80 or more points since 2000 in a 6-5 shootout win on Sunday at Honda Center.
It's been a challenge for Thomas playing with different linemates, including Sunday when he was flanked by Brayden Schenn and Zack Bolduc.
But Thomas wasted little time in setting up Bolduc for his third NHL goal just 11 seconds into the game to pass his previous personal best of 77 points set in 2021-22. He would score his 24th goal of the season in the second period, a power-play goal, to give him 80 points and become just the fourth Blue to reach 80 points since 2000, joining Pavol Demitra, who had 93 points in 2002-03; Pierre Turgeon, who had 82 points in 2000-01; and Vladimir Tarasenko, who had 82 points in 2021-22.
It was Thomas' third four-point game this season; he had four assists in an 8-2 win against the Colorado Avalanche on Nov. 11, 2023, and a goal and three assists in a 7-2 win against the Montreal Canadiens on Feb. 11.
Thomas was impactful on both ends of the ice and had it not been for a couple unfortunate bad breaks, he could have had a couple more points in this game.
Thomas led the Blues with five shots on goal, was a plus-1 in 20:39 and won 21 of 27 face-offs in the game (78 percent).
Related: Thomas joins elite group of Blues with 80 or more points since turn of century
Thomas joins elite group of Blues with 80 or more points since turn of century
Robert Thomas had a goal and three assists on Sunday to reach the 80-point marker and set a personal career high in the NHL for the St. Louis Blues in a 6-5 shootout win against the Anaheim Ducks on Sunday at Honda Center.
Thomas assisted on Zack Bolduc's goal 11 seconds into the game to establish his personal season-best with his 78th point, surpassing his previous high of 77 done in 2021-22 and last season, then scored his 24th goal of the season at 13:36 of the second period to get him to 80.
Robert Thomas! On the power play! Blues back in front once again. #stlblues
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With 81 points, Thomas joins Pavol Demitra (93 points; 2002-03), Pierre Turgeon (82 points; 2000-01) and Vladimir Tarasenko as the only Blues with 80 or more points since 2000.
Kessel scores first NHL goal against Ducks
Finally, Matthew Kessel can shed the monkey off his back.
The St. Louis Blues defenseman needed 37 NHL games to do so, but he finally has his first NHL goal when he scored in the first period on Sunday against the Anaheim Ducks at Honda Center.
Kessel gave the Blues a 2-1 lead at 12:36 when he took a Robert Thomas pass coming into the zone and wired a wrister from the right circle past Lukas Dostal.
FIRST NHL GOAL! 🚨 Matthew Kessel will certainly remember this one. #stlblues
Watch on the Bally Sports app, brought to you by @BommaritoAuto. pic.twitter.com/Ip6Op2rton
Kessel, who was playing in his 35th game this season after playing his first two NHL games last season, had four assists before finally potting that first goal; he had scored seven goals in two-plus seasons with the Springfield Thunderbirds before finally scoring in the NHL.
Matthew Kessel on his first NHL goal: "It feels great. Taken a couple of games for sure, but it's great to get that one. It was fun." #stlblues pic.twitter.com/qhOiAc2RCL
— Bally Sports Midwest (@BallySportsMW) April 8, 2024Related: Blues player to watch vs. Ducks: Pavel Buchnevich
The Hockey News Archive
(4-7-24) Blues-Ducks Gameday Lineup
The St. Louis Blues get right back at it on Sunday when they play the second-to-last road game of the season against the Anaheim Ducks at 7 p.m. (BSMW, ESPN 101.1-FM).
The Blues (40-32-5) are going for the season sweep of the Ducks (25-48-4) after winning 3-1 at Honda Center on Nov. 19 and 4-2 at Enterprise Center on March 17.
The Blues are coming off a 3-2 overtime loss against the San Jose Sharks on Saturday after overcoming a two-goal third-period deficit to earn at least a point. But they have just five games remaining and trail the Nashville Predators by seven points for the second wild card in the Western Conference.
The Blues, who sat forward Kevin Hayes and defenseman Torey Krug on Saturday in favor of playing more of the younger players, could be without forward Jake Neighbours and defenseman Justin Faulk, each who left Saturday's game with an upper-body injury on basically the same sequence.
Neighbours was rocked with a hit by Chesterfield's Luke Kunin along the Blues bench in which the back of his head smacked backwards, and Faulk took exception to it and fought Kunin but did not return following the fight.
Blues interim coach Drew Bannister said following the game both players would be reevaluated Sunday but offered no update postgame.
With that in mind, the Blues did not hold a morning skate with the 5 p.m. local time puck drop, and a lineup is fluid but here's a projected one:
The Blues projected lineup:
Pavel Buchnevich-Robert Thomas-Jordan Kyrou
Brandon Saad-Brayden Schenn-Alexey Toropchenko
Zack Bolduc-Kevin Hayes-Kasperi Kapanen
Sammy Blais-Zach Dean-Nathan Walker
Nick Leddy-Colton Parayko
Torey Krug-Matthew Kessel
Tyler Tucker-Scott Perunovich
Jordan Binnington will start in goal; Joel Hofer will be the backup.
Healthy scratches could include Nikita Alexandrov and Marco Scandella. Justin Faulk (upper body) and Jake Neighbours (upper body) could be out; Oskar Sundqvist (torn right ACL) is out for the season.
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The Ducks' projected lineup:
Alex Killorn-Leo Carlsson-Troy Terry
Frank Vatrano-Trevor Zegras-Ryan Strome
Nikita Nesterenko-Isac Lundestrom-Jakob Silfverberg
Ross Johnston-Bo Groulx-Brett Leason
Cam Fowler-Olen Zellweger
Urho Vaakanainen-Radko Gudas
William Lagesson-Gustav Lindstrom
Lukas Dostal is projected to start in goal; Alex Stalock would be the backup.
Healthy scratches are projected to be Jackson LaCombe and Ben Meyers. Max Jones (upper body), Pavel Mintyukov (lower body), Mason McTavish (lower body) and John Gibson (upper body) are out.
Related: Blues player to watch vs. Ducks: Pavel Buchnevich
Blues player to watch vs. Ducks: Pavel Buchnevich
Whether it was with a purpose, whether it was out of necessity, Pavel Buchnevich was back on familiar ice Saturday against the San Jose Sharks.
Blues player to watch vs. Ducks: Pavel Buchnevich (1:57)The forward was reunited on a line with Robert Thomas and Jordan Kyrou with the Blues (40-32-5) chasing a result against the San Jose Sharks that turned into a 3-2 overtime loss.
Depending on which way interim coach Drew Bannister goes with the lineup for the 7 p.m. puck drop on Sunday, Buchnevich is the player to watch here. His success against the Anaheim Ducks this season has produced four points (one goal, three assists) in two games and if the Blues are to come away with a win on this three-game road trip, he could play a big hand in it.
Buchnevich has been in and out of the center ice position the past dozen games or so, but there seems to be more value in his usage on the wing. Whether he gets back there tonight is up to the coaching staff, but his 13 points (four goals, nine assists) in 15 games against the Ducks shows his value against this opponent as the Blues go for the season sweep.
Related: (4-7-24) Blues-Ducks Gameday Lineup
Blues-Sharks takeaways: St. Louis once again let down by special teams; season in microcosm on display once again in inability to defeat worst team in hockey (San Jose) for third time this season
It was another microcosm moment for the St. Louis Blues in their 3-2 overtime loss against the San Jose Sharks at SAP Center on Saturday.
Blues-Sharks takeaways (4-6-24) (9:28)The Blues (40-32-5) have once again proven that they can compete, even beat, the best teams around the NHL, and even when they don't win, like Thursday's 6-3 loss against the Nashville Predators, they show the ability to play well in areas. And on the flip side, they once again solidified the proof that they can't perform again the bottom feeders of the league.
The San Jose Sharks, all 18 wins of them (18-50-8) own three wins against the Blues this season. They haven't beaten anyone else more than once.
Saturday's loss marks the eighth time (eighth!) that the Blues have dropped points against four of the five bottom teams as far as points percentage in the league. The Anaheim Ducks, Sunday's opponent by the way, are the only ones not to have picked up points against the Blues, who are 4-7-1 against the Sharks, Columbus Blue Jackets, Chicago Blackhawks and Arizona Coyotes.
That simply isn't good enough.
On Saturday, just like Thursday in Nashville, the special teams were brutally bad, and just like last Saturday's embarrassing 4-0 loss against the Sharks on home ice, it was the second period that undid the Blues after they dominate play in the first period but can't solve a goaltender.
Last week, it was Mackenzie Blackwood; Saturday, it was Devin Cooley, making just his third NHL start with a robust 4.62 goals-against average and .852 save percentage his first two starts.
Just like Thursday, the power play was 1-for-6 and had opportunities early in the game to seize control. And the penalty kill, just like Thursday, failed in the second period allowing two power-play markers to William Eklund, who by the way also ended the game with his first NHL hat trick.
The Blues played the game with all of their young players, electing to sit veterans Torey Krug, Kevin Hayes, who missed his first game of the season, and Sammy Blais in favor of Zach Dean, Nikita Alexandrov and Scott Perunovich along with Zack Bolduc Matthew Kessel and Tyler Tucker.
Let's get into the key points of the game:
* Toropchenko trying to set early example -- Even with the Blues' playoff hopes sliding into the black hole, Alexey Toropchenko plays each and every shift with a purpose.
The forward strips a puck in the neutral zone and creates a 2-on-1, keeps the puck but is denied twice by Cooley in the opening minute of the game.
It was Toropchenko's way of telling his teammates it was go time.
* Blanks on three power plays -- The Sharks couldn't seem to stay out of the penalty box in the first period, but the Blues kept giving them a free Get Out of Jail card every time.
Old friend Klim Kostin boarded Tucker at 11:14; Fabian Zetterlund hooked Brandon Saad at 17:20, and Calen Addison was sent to the showers when the defenseman was called for cross checking, then picked up another minor for unsportsmanlike conduct voicing his displeasure with the call, but it was bad enough to warrant a 10-minute misconduct and a game-misconduct at 19:39. So the Blues, who outshot the Sharks 14-5 in the first period, would get 3:31 of clean-sheet ice to begin the second period with a chance to grab some control.
* Wasting chance for momentum -- The Blues would have shots but spent most of the man advantage on the perimeters, and when they would get some looks on the interior, they'd either pass up shots or fumbled pucks, mismanaging them and early in the second period, they're already 0-for-4. Not a recipe for success.
* Momentum shifts -- The Sharks fed off their penalty kill, and why wouldn't they?
The Blues were obviously frustrated with not getting much in the way of chances against Cooley and the Sharks, who spent much of the first period-plus in their own zone, but Tucker took the game's first penalty by the visitors, a slashing minor getting beat to the net, at 5:29.
It took a terrific Joel Hofer save on Thomas Bordeleau at 6:23 to keep it a scoreless game.
HOLY HOFER! #stlblues
Watch on the Bally Sports app, brought to you by @BommaritoAuto. pic.twitter.com/ZNehhJsEzT
* Local boy turns tides -- Luke Kunin, a Chesterfield native, changed the complexion all in one play, a hit on Jake Neighbours along the benches that sent Neighbours flying backwards, his head snapping back off the top of the bench at 13:47, and Justin Faulk didn't like it one bit -- albeit it was a clean check.
Justin Faulk being a good neighbour to Jake Neighbours, if you will. 👊 He fights San Jose's Luke Kunin after Kunin throws Neighbours into the boards. #stlblues
Watch on the Bally Sports app, brought to you by @BommaritoAuto. pic.twitter.com/YxUlFBV0wD
Problem was Faulk and Kunin each were assessed fighting majors, but Faulk was also given an instigator minor and 10-minute misconduct.
An even bigger issue was apparently Faulk was injured in the fight and did not return with an upper-body injury, and Neighbours also did not return because of an apparent head injury.
And Eklund made the Blues pay when he scored on a one-timer from the right circle at 14:42 to make it 1-0 Sharks.
* PK woes continue -- With Nathan Walker now in the box for interference at 15:07, Eklund struck again to make it 2-0 at 16:59 when the 2022 first-round pick was around the net and banged home a loose puck after the Sharks put it into the crease area and converged bodies around Hofer.
So the Blues once again trailed and were chasing the game against this team that for whatever reason, continued to give them fits this season.
* Parayko punches -- Something nobody expected but it certainly caught the attention of the Blues was Colton Parayko dropping the gloves with Kostin just nine seconds into the third period.
Colton Parayko, noted enforcer, fights former teammate Klim Kostin right after the puck drops in the third. 🤯 #stlblues
Watch on the Bally Sports app, brought to you by @BommaritoAuto. pic.twitter.com/SOOaxkgujs
Someone had to ignite some sort of fire, and ultimately it worked because after Jack Studnicka was whistled for hooking at 2:13, Kyrou finally put a dent behind Cooley and cut the Sharks lead to 2-1 at 3:21 on a shot from the high slot with Schenn providing the traffic.
Jordan Kyrou goes top shelf on the power play and the #stlblues are back within a goal!
📺: Bally Sports Extra | 📱: Bally Sports app pic.twitter.com/iQbAfmG2Wf
The problem with gaining some momentum there was the Blues had a couple undisciplined moments that took time off the clock when Robert Thomas was called for hooking at 9:27 and Hofer was called for tripping (it was a bad call) at 13:35, but the penalty kill did its job.
* Schenn ties it late -- The old goalie pull worked out this time for the Blues when Schenn tied it 2-2 at 17:30 when Thomas won a face-off, the puck at the left point to Scott Perunovich, who rounds it off the wall to the back of the net, where Thomas blind backhands one to the slot for Schenn to one-time home.
The Blues pull the goalie and Schenner ties it!!! Amazing! #stlblues
📺: Bally Sports Extra | 📱: Bally Sports app pic.twitter.com/tDnPTOekyk
The Blues pressed for the winner and had ample opportunities but got the game to overtime with a 33-24 shots edge.
* Game was there for the taking -- Things played out exactly how the Blues wanted.
They had momentum from two third-period goals and were given another opportunity on the power play. This time, with Mikael Granlund going to the box for hooking Pavel Buchnevich 46 seconds in.
The Blues would get a 4-on-3 to win it, and two things came to mind: would they dare pull Hofer to make it a 5-on-3 knowing they needed to maximize getting two points, which they didn't, and who would they utilize in that situation?
They elected to go with four forwards (Thomas, Kyrou, Schenn and Buchnevich) and it was a disaster.
Thomas lost three draws in the offensive zone that allowed San Jose to get three clears, and there wasn't much of anything at the net to create any kind of havoc.
* Eklund wins it -- Not long after the Blues blew their chance, Eklund darted up the left wing past Schenn and wired a wrister just inside the left circle to win it for San Jose, which outscored St. Louis 12-3 in sweeping the three games and leaving the Blues hanging by a thread in the wild card.
Eky knows how to put on a show 😤 pic.twitter.com/pBy7judGhl
— San Jose Sharks (@SanJoseSharks) April 7, 2024“Both games we outplayed them but in the second period we seemed to get frustrated and got away from our game plan, and at the end of the day it hurt us.”
Jordan Kyrou, Colton Parayko and Drew Bannister speak to the media after today’s game in San Jose. #stlblues pic.twitter.com/ZakCqBx0Mt
Kelly Chase, in toughest fight of his life, wanted to make Friday about cancer awareness, raise money for good cause
MARYLAND HEIGHTS, Mo. -- There was Kelly Chase, front and center on Friday doing what he does best: entertaining family, friends, ex-teammates, ex-opponents, smiling, laughing as if he didn't have a care in the world.
For those that know one of the toughest pound-for-pound skaters that ever donned a St. Louis Blues jersey thinks he's in a good place, and the 56-year-old most certainly is today, but it wasn't like that going back to November when Chase was diagnosed with Acute Myeloid Luekemia that has endured countless amounts of chemotherapy treatments, hospital stays and just a nuisance to every day life.
The man of the hour who orchestrated tonight's Puck Cancer benefit pitting #stlblues alumni against NHL alumni ... pic.twitter.com/jU2SkLltol
— Lou Korac (@lkorac10) April 5, 2024But for Chase, who helped orchestrate Friday's 'Puck Cancer' charity hockey game between Blues alumni and NHL alumni at Centene Community Ice Center, this wasn't about him. It's about helping fight a disease that affects so many humans not only in the hockey community but all around the world.
"I happened to get this bounce, whether it's a bad bounce or a realization bounce," Chase said. " It affects people in all different ways. But for me, I wanted to give back because I feel like, not only did it touch me personally; it could have saved my life, it's also ... we've been in so many hospitals for so many times and tried to help people feel good for a minute or two but we have to leave and go on to our next thing. There's always so many asks. For me, I wanted to do something that was more impactful, and I think this will be and I'm grateful for all the support.
Does that man look like he's battling leukemia? #stlblues ... pic.twitter.com/kt60GGTMBo
— Lou Korac (@lkorac10) April 5, 2024"I'm extremely grateful, but I also look at it like I think everyone's been affected by (cancer). It's not a one-time thing, there's nobody that's going to be here that has not been affected by cancer in some way, shape or form, right? I've been supported in so many ways by this city at so many different times, it's overwhelming, and then the brotherhood of the hockey players, sports community, entertainers. I'm pretty happy, pretty grateful and pretty proud of them."
Friday's game drew a sellout crowd of over 3,000 that raised $400,000 and counting, and the Blues and Blues alumni presented a check for $600,000 prior to puck drop supporting the Siteman Cancer Center and The V Foundation for Cancer Research.
The St. Louis Blues and their alumni presented a check for $600,000 to the Jimmy V Foundation and Siteman Cancer Research at the 'Puck Cancer' charity game Friday at Centene Community Ice Center."There's no close brotherhood like it," Chase said. "I don't think unless you're in the military, you know the uniqueness of that group of guys and what it means. It's funny, hockey's always had a way of weeding out guys that maybe didn't fit or guys that weren't good guys. You just find the overwhelming support."
That support brought in some of the top Blues alumni and hockey names from years past for a great night.
Every mile a memory with these legends. #stlblues pic.twitter.com/a1ELl64kta
— St. Louis Blues (@StLouisBlues) April 6, 2024"All of these guys have been through different battles on the ice to where some of that might come back a little bit," Blues and New Jersey Devils alumni Cam Janssen said. "They're going to raise a lot of money. 'Chaser' talks about Siteman's all the time and how good they are."
"I honestly wished we didn't have to be here, but we are," said Blues great and hockey Hall of Famer Brett Hull, one of Chase's closest friends and teammates in St. Louis. "I don't think it's particularly unique to hockey. Pretty well every sport, when something like this comes up, nobody's going to say no. This just shows the hockey family that we have and it's not just 'Chaser,' there's a number of guys that have fallen ill and to get them all together and see the guys you haven't seen in forever that you played with and against. To see them and to visit and to tell stories, everyone's smiling but deep down everyone knows it's kind of a somber reason we're here, but we're here to make sure everyone recognizes what it's all about and raise some money to help one day get a cure for all these terrible things."
Here they come #nhlalumni #stlblues alumni ... was able to zoom in on Brian Elliott and Brendan Shananan ... pic.twitter.com/DpjIe0Ijfr
— Lou Korac (@lkorac10) April 5, 2024It was a no-brainer for anyone that got an invite to come and help raise awareness/money and to make it a star-studded gathering.
"He called me up and invited me to come down here and I said, 'I'd love to come and see you,'" said former Blues coach and three-time Stanley Cup-winning coach with the Chicago Blackhawks Joel Quenneville. "I've been talking to him, thinking about him and standing here with Tony Granato, they're almost going through the exact same thing. It's been tough what they have to deal with on a daily basis, two of the toughest guys you'd ever want to meet and they're handling this thing in an amazing way. They're fighting and they're competitive and there's been some real good progress and positive. Nobody can put a party on like 'Chaser' can.
Former Blues coach Joel Quenneville (left) and Denver Broncos coach Sean Payton were two of the coaches at the 'Puck Cancer' charity hockey game on Friday at Centene Community Ice Center."The hockey community is spectacular. His support group is as extensive as you're ever going to find, anybody in any capacity."
Chase goes in for another round of chemo on Sunday, then goes in for a bone biopsy on May 10 to find out that there's no tissue at all, old cancer cells in his body.
"When I find that out, it'll be a great feeling, but I don't want to get ahead of myself," Chase said.
"I've never Googled Leukemia," he said. "I don't even know what the hell it is. I know what it is (now), but that's maybe why, it's too hard to spell! But honestly, I don't think like that and I don't think there's anything good about telling me to do that. I just thought about them telling me they can get me on a winning team. So I'm like, 'Alright, that's what we've got to do. We've got to get on the winning team.' And I asked the question, 'Is there two teams?' And he's like, 'Yeah, yeah.' So I said, 'OK, let's get on the winning team.' So then after that, I kind of tried, and there have been some slip-ups, but I'm listening to the doctors. I've tried listening the best that I can and get the advice of the people that are way smarter than me at this."
According to hockeyfights.com, Chase had 174 fights in his 11-year NHL career. No. 177 is the toughest one yet.
"One thing, it doesn't pick and choose how big and tough you are," Chase said. "Cancer, it affects everybody. ... There's some tough customers that have had battles with cancer and not maybe come out on the right end of it. I feel like I'm going to win this battle. I feel like it's just another fight. The one thing about this fight is, you don't mind fighting. You want to see the size of the guys. This guy's big and he's tough and he fights with both hands and he can take a punch. For me, I feel like I'm on the right end of it right now, I've got to shake off my elbow pad and punch him in the mouth a few more times and make sure that when he's down, he damn well stays there."
Thanks to the big guy for coming in and putting us over the top @garthbrooks @StLouisBlues @bluesalumni @NHLAlumni pic.twitter.com/aeRsahtSTC
— Kelly Chase (@Chasenpucks39) April 6, 2024Having former teammates and opponents there Friday was important for the cause, including Granato, Darin Kimble, Brian Boyle and Troy Murray.
"Tony Granato, Darin Kimble going through it three-and-a-half years by himself right here locally and no one knowing. That is a tough way to do it," Chase said. "For me, having Tony, Brian Boyle, certainly Troy Murray is fighting a different type of cancer. For a lack of a better term, we're the Make-A-Wish kids for the game or the fundraiser. We talked about it (Thursday) night, the three of us got a picture under the Puck Cancer sign (Chase, Granato, Murray). ... It's a battle. It's no joke, but you know what, I think having the right attitude and right people supporting you around you is a big difference maker."
One thing's for certain, for those around him, they know Chase will beat this.
"We've talked and it doesn't matter how strong you are because it'll zap you of that," Hull said. "But as long as you're stronger than it is from the neck up, and I don't know if there's anyone stronger. I think he's got it licked.
"If you want to feel sorry for him, he'll be the first guy to kick you out of his room. ... Let's cure this so we don't have to do it anymore."
"I think he's doing good though. I think he's doing good," Janssen said. "I see his face, he's got energy. ... The hockey community is so tight-knit, and it's a huge community too. Everybody knows each other. They understand the hockey mentality, and they understand when things like this go down, which happens to a lot of people, cancer is somewhat a way of life for families, everybody. Everybody knows somebody that has it. We're going to raise a ton of money and we're going to have a fun time doing it."
Scott Young… to @CamJanssen25 on the backhand…. HE SCORES!!! #stlblues pic.twitter.com/DGb8oUXPEb
— St. Louis Blues (@StLouisBlues) April 6, 2024Also included in the lineup for Friday included Denver Broncos coach Sean Payton, who lost his mother to breast cancer; country music singers Garth Brooks, Dierks Bentley and Trevor Rosen.
This is @DierksBentley scoring on a penalty shot in our charity hockey game. #stlblues pic.twitter.com/6u3yUOhKab
— St. Louis Blues (@StLouisBlues) April 6, 2024Chase, who took the pregame warmup and had a shift on the ice, was also represented by his three sons, Will (24), Ben (22) and Luke (20).
We had Kelly Chase mic’d up for his charity hockey game.
It won’t surprise you, but the results were pure gold. #stlblues pic.twitter.com/xdaEovGDE1
"I've been taking a lot of heat because of the bike and push-ups and the sit-ups," Chase said. "They said if I would have worked that hard when I wasn't in the hospital, I still would have played another 10 years. It's been great.
"I feel great. I'm probably as good as I feel until the end of April because I go in for chemo again on Sunday. ... I crawl out of the hole and keep battling and hopefully it's the last time I have to go in there. I'm in remission right now and hopefully that means it just stays away."
- - -
TEAM ROSTERS
Blues Alumni
Coaches: Brett Hull and Joel Quenneville
Skaters: Rick Zombo (4), Barret Jackman (5), Dierks Bentley (7), Nelson Emerson (7), Scottie Upshall (9), Brenden Morrow (10), Mike Keane (12), Geoff Courtnall (14), Paul Cavallini (14), Scott Mellanby (19), Brendan Shanahan (19), Jamal Mayers (21), Jeff Brown (21), Lawson Kimble (29), Kelly Chase (39), Will Chase (39), Luke Chase (39), Ben Chase (39), Trevor Rosen (41), Scott Young (48), Cam Janssen (55), Pierre Turgeon (77)
Goalie: Brian Elliott (1)
NHL Alumni/Celebrities
Coaches: Sean Payton, Tony Granato, Garth Brooks
Skaters: Chris Joseph (2), Chris Butler (5), Chris Chelios (7), Jamie Huscroft (7), Adam Graves (9), Ryan Malone (12), Ray Whitney (14), Sheldon Souray (14), George Parros (16), Kevin Maguire (18), Adam Hall (18), Jim McKenzie (19), Ed Belfour (20), Brian Boyle (22), Reid Simpson (33), Jesse Boulerice (36), Adam Burish (37), Kraig Nienhuis (38), Dave Couler (90)
Goalies: Ben Scrivens (30), Michael Garnett (35).
Additional attendees
Blues: Jim Campbell, Blake Dunlop, Bruce Affleck, John Wensink, Bob Hess, Neil Komadoski, Mike Zuke, Guy Carbonneau, Doug Weight, Darin Kimble, Marc Bergevin, Garth Butcher, Perry Turnbull, Bernie Federko, Mike Lalor, Tony Twist, Martin Brodeur.
NHL: Paul Kelly, Bryan Trottier, Brad Marsh, Stu Grimson, Glenn Healy, Troy Vollhoffer, Trevor Lewis
Brian Elliott hasn't missed a beat #stlblues ... pic.twitter.com/bcUKMxUsyQ
— Lou Korac (@lkorac10) April 5, 2024
Brendan Shanahan looks like he's still got game #stlblues ... pic.twitter.com/n6X7GD1lR2
— Lou Korac (@lkorac10) April 6, 2024Blues-Predators takeaways: St. Louis played well enough to win an important hockey game; for a change, the opposite goalie was better on this night, special teams proved costly in 6-3 loss against Nashville
NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- For those that would pick up the stat sheet or watch goal highlights and think the St. Louis Blues were taken to the woodshed by the Nashville Predators on Thursday, think again.
Yes, the result is all that matters, but the Blues' 6-3 loss a Bridgestone Arena was anything but a bad loss.
Blues-Predators takeaways (4-4-24) (2:56)Sure, it is in Game No. 76, when the Blues (39-32-4) needed two points in the worst way. It would have pulled them within four points of the Predators (44-28-4) for the second wild card in the Western Conference and kept them within five points of the Los Angeles Kings, who defeated the San Jose Sharks Thursday.
Instead, they are now eight back of Nashville and seven back of L.A. with six games to play.
Not good.
"It's two points we thought we needed," Blues defenseman Justin Faulk said.
Indeed they were.
But the Blues gave it their best shot in a game where if not for the play of Juuse Saros in Nashville goal (he made 44 saves) and the specialty teams (Blues were 1 for 6 on the power play and allowed two power-play goals on three chances), this game would have likely gone in a different direction.
"Yeah I thought we were the better team for most of the night," said Blues center Robert Thomas, who had an assist. "It's a frustrating result obviously. I think we did a lot of really good things and just couldn't find a way to bury on our chances."
The Blues were really good 5-on-5, and for a change, outshooting the Predators 37-22 at even strength.
"Yeah I thought overall, definitely 5-on-5, we played a pretty good game," Faulk said. "Good first period and that's what we knew we needed. Good to bounce back right away. Special teams didn't go our way. I was pleased with our effort, gave ourselves a chance. It's tough right now. ... We were playing desperate obviously there in the third pulling the goalie and the 4-on-4 situation doing everything we can to try and get back in it."
Blues interim coach Drew Bannister agreed.
"I thought we played well 5-on-5 for the first 40 minutes," Bannister said. "In the third there, it got a little bit scrambly with the goalie being pulled in some of the situations we were trying to score on. I thought the guys competed hard and did a lot of good things in the first 40 minutes. Offensively, we created a lot of opportunities. Their goalie had to make a lot of big saves for them. We need to do a better job of getting pucks to the net, especially on the power play. I don't think there were any guys that didn't come to compete tonight. I thought our guys came and they put a good effort in, but at the end of the day it wasn't good enough."
Let's dive into the takeaways and key points from a crucial loss:
* Blues make mistake on first shift -- Just when the Blues wanted to establish something in the early going, they get caught on a Colton Parayko pinch, a puck getting past Brandon Saad and a 2-on-1 turned into a Roman Josi goal.
It's a goal Jordan Binnington, who for a change for outplayed by his counterpart, would want back. Even though it was a 2-on-1, Binnington played the shooter correctly but got beat on the short side just 31 seconds into the game and it was 1-0.
Normally under those circumstances, especially earlier in the season, the Blues would crumble. But they actually picked up their play and increased their shot volume, putting Saros under duress.
* Saad stays hot, Blues forecheck sets tempo -- Saad would get the Blues level at 1-1 when Thomas intercepted friend Ryan O'Reilly in the Nashville zone, fed Thomas in the slot and he beat Saros high on the short side.
The Blues were forcing Nashville into all sorts of puck errors, and their forecheck was making life in the Predators zone. But Saros was making all the key saves.
Nobody can stop Brandon Saad right now and we're here for it. #stlblues pic.twitter.com/9r3lV8KMiy
— St. Louis Blues (@StLouisBlues) April 5, 2024"Yeah, he's one of the best goalies in the league," Faulk said of Saros. "He's been that way for a while. It's a tough goalie to crack. It's tough. Some nights, you've got to try and lock it down and know in order to win a game, you might have to be a low-scoring game because you know you're going against a good goalie and a team that tries to play pretty tight defensively, not open it up too much. He played well tonight. We had 45, almost 5o shots or something. We threw a lot at him, that's for sure."
The Blues came out of the period with a season-high 20 shots on goal in the first period.
* Another slow start to begin a period -- Just like the first, the Blues were hoping to avoid a poor start. They needed to take advantage of a strong first, but Saad was called for slashing, and Filip Forsberg made it 2-1 with a power-play goal from the left circle that Thomas got a stick on and changed the trajectory of the shot through Binnington's pads at 1:13.
* Power play comes up empty -- The Blues missed out on two power play chances in the first, then got three more in the second but came up empty-handed despite 10 power-play shots.
"I just don't think we got our shots through. I think that's the main thing," Thomas said, noting Nashville's 19 blocks. "They blocked them. We got one at the end there, but I think we had a couple good looks and just couldn't hit the net and couldn't bury. Again, it's frustrating."
Bannister added, "We had a lot of good looks 5-on-5. There were opportunities there. Some redirections, an inch one way or another and it's probably in the back of the net. I think we had 47-49 shots ... the only thing I would say is on our power play, we have to find a way to get more pucks to the net. Credit to them, they blocked a lot of shots. But we have to do a better job of finding a way to get pucks to the net in those situations."
* Killer third goal -- Alexey Toropchenko's roughing call was a weak one at best, but the Blues needed that kill late in the second to keep it a one-shot game.
They failed when Anthony Beauvillier made it 3-1 with 29.6 seconds left in the period when scrambly bodies produced a puck for Nashville, and Gustav Nyquist slow-chipped a puck to Beauvillier at the back post for a slam dunk.
"Yeah, but we came back," Thomas noted. "I thought we came out hard. We had a couple good looks early. Jake scores and we get it back to a one-goal game at one point. I was happy with our response. It's not enough."
The Blues had 35 shots through two periods, including 34 shot attempts in the first alone The opportunities were there.
* Bad turnover -- The Blues were managing the puck well despite being down, but Torey Krug turned a puck over, Michael McCarron picked it off and beat Binnington from distance, another shot the goalie would like back, at 4:09 of the third for a 4-1 lead.
Now the Blues are really chasing.
* Pulling the goalie -- Some thought Patrick Roy was in the building, but Bannister pulled Binnington with roughly 12 minutes left during a 4-on-4 situation to make it 5-on-4.
"Yeah I mean we're down 4-1, we have to find a way to score goals," Bannister said. "From there, we're just looking to give ourselves opportunities to create offense and try and close the gap."
They would do that when Jake Neighbours scored his team-leading 27th at 6:21 to make it a 4-2 game when he was sprung by Faulk into the left circle and wristed a shot by Saros on the short side.
Jake Neighbours. That is all. #stlblues pic.twitter.com/8RoKiFuKNL
— St. Louis Blues (@StLouisBlues) April 5, 2024* Kyrou makes it interesting -- The Blues finally capitalized when Kyrou one-timed a shot from the left circle with 2:15 remaining to make it 4-3. It came off Nashville's sixth minor and Binnington pulled making it a 6-on-4.
Not. Done. Yet. #stlblues pic.twitter.com/quSUwc6eqn
— St. Louis Blues (@StLouisBlues) April 5, 2024* Empty-netters seal fate -- Unfortunately, the Blues could get no closer when Forsberg scored his personal-best 43rd at 18:16, and Mark Jankowski made it 6-3 at 19:23 with a shorthanded empty-netter.
"I thought we matched (Nashville's intensity and physicality)," Bannister said. 'I thought physically, especially on the forecheck in the offensive zone, we were able to do some good things and create offense from it. They score on the first shift. Again, it's a forecheck. We take a lazy route. Our D gets down on a puck. We are there, but we aren't there and it's a 2-on-1. The first shot our goalie sees is off a 2-on-1. So, you take that shift away in the first (period) and we played a pretty good period. So certainly we had a good first period, a first period that we could live with going into the second. From there, we're down 3-1 but we don't feel like we're out of the game. It felt like we played some pretty good hockey at that point. We had an opportunity to change the flow of the game if we were able to score early in the third, but they get that fourth one and now we have to change our game plan a little bit and be more aggressive."
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