The St. Louis Blues found their game in their last two wins, even if it was somewhat unconventional how it all transpired. Nevertheless, the Colorado Avalanche came in nipping at their heels.
The St. Louis Blues knew they were in for a game before the puck even dropped. Despite a slow start, the Colorado Avalanche had battled back and have flip-flopped with the Blues for first place in the conference the last week or so.
Colorado has done it the right way too. No longer are they just an offensive juggernaut, but they defend pretty well too. The Avs came into this game having scored 117 but only allowing 86, which was the second fewest in the conference.
The Blues were ready though. They came out strong and did not allow the Avalanche to establish their game or tempo.
Like the Chicago game, the Blues were getting the better of the chances and overall shots. St. Louis’ biggest problem was too many of the chances were going to guys you wouldn’t expect to finish them, such as Robert Bortuzzo.
Unlike the game against the Blackhawks, the Blues managed to break through in the first period. It took until almost the very end, but St. Louis got the goal.
It was a fantastic play all around. In the end, it was essentially an empty net goal due to an actual screen in front of the net.
Sadly, it was a short-lived boost, unless you count the intermission. The Blues scored 1:09 before the end of the first. Colorado tied the game just 55 seconds into the second period.
The Avalanche would capitalize on a power play almost halfway through the period too, grabbing a 2-1 lead. It seemed like the period was going to belong to the Avs until the final couple minutes.
The Blues got a four minute power play and finally took advantage of that. The Blues would score two goals on the man advantage and claim a 3-2 lead.
The Blues put more pressure on in the third. They were moving their feet, connecting on passes and just missing on some great chances.
It was a showcase of afterburners by Jordan Kyrou that would make it 4-2 on a wraparound. David Perron capped it all off with an empty net goal for his hat trick and a 5-2 win.
Pros: O’Reilly to Perron connection
The combination of David Perron and Ryan O’Reilly has been a positive one for quite some time over the last two years. Lately, it has been a little bit silent.
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Perron had one goal in his last five games. O’Reilly was a little more active with three assists in that same span.
However, this one connection for the team’s first goal was something special. Both were involved right from the finish.
Perron used his strength to hold the puck in the zone with one hand and also his core strength to keep the defender away. Once he had position, the puck found O’Reilly at the blue line.
Perron then took up a spot on the weak side and had the easy part of putting the puck into an empty net. The astounding part was the pass from O’Reilly.
At this point, we have almost come to expect such passes from O’Reilly, but this was still a high quality one.
Cons: Second period lull
As good as the Blues were in the first period, they were equally unimpressive in the second. It was not a terrible period, but it lacked a lot.
For about 18 minutes, the Blues just looked very lackluster. Of course, allowing a goal in the first minute of a period was not the way to get going.
The Blues got caught puck watching a little bit and the Avalanche found the open man on the back door. Jordan Binnington still almost made the save, but Nazem Kadri buried it.
Speaking of burying it, that’s what Mikko Rantanen did on the Avalanche power play too. That goal was emblematic of two major problems.
The Blues had been giving the Avalanche too many chances on the power play. The second goal was also another back door play. Granted, it is harder to guard the back door on a penalty kill, but it seems the Blues are allowing that kind of play a little too much lately.
The offense disappeared for a good stretch too. The Blues had nine second period shots, but most of those came on the power play at the end.
Defensively, the Blues were quite loose too. Binnington had to stop a breakaway and the Blues allowed 13 shots in that period alone.
Pros: Finally taking advantage of a power play
Despite what bloggers and the Twitterverse says to the opposite effect, the Blues power play has actually been pretty good overall, though they have been quite cold of late. However, it is the key moments, when they really have to take advantage, that they have faltered.
It seemed as though it was going to be another one of those moments when the Blues had a four minute power play due to a double-minor for high sticking.
The first minute or so was the usual Blues power play stuff. They moved the puck quite well, but did not generate much and the Avalanche were able to clear.
However, the Blues were not going to be outdone. Perron put the team on his shoulders again and roofed a shot to tie the game just in time for the Blues to stay on the power play.
Instead of just being happy with the tying goal, the Blues went right back to work. Tyler Bozak and Vince Dunn tried to get their name in the same discussion as Perron and O’Reilly with some fantastic passing and leaving the Avs goaltender holding his jock strap.
That goal put the Blues up 3-2. It was just what the team needed. Now they just need to take advantage of a five-on-three for once, but one step at a time.
Overview
Robert Thomas was the superstar in the game against the Blackhawks. Perron was the star in this one.
Perron had plenty of help. O’Reilly set him up for an easy one on the first goal and some others chipped in with goals too.
Still, any time you get a hat trick, how can you argue against that person for star of the game. On top of a hatty, two of the goals were extremely important.
The first goal put the Blues up by one. The second goal tied the game when it looked like the Blues were starting to falter.
From a team standpoint, this game re-established the Blues as the team to beat. Of course, with winning streaks and losing streaks, things change week to week, but for now the Blues kept themselves ahead of the Avalanche in the standings and in the championship conversation as well.
The second period was a little bit concerning, but it was a big win. The Blues got good goaltending and they upped their game when needed. Great result.