By many accounts, the St. Louis Blues picked up a big opening-night point on the road at the Dallas Stars on Thursday night. There are plenty of rational takeaways from the game, but let’s overreact to start the season.
The St. Louis Blues are on pace for 82 points this season and will break the NHL record for most overtime losses in a single season. The most overtime losses in a single year by the Blues was recorded in the 2005-06 season when they lost 15 games in overtime or a shootout.
St. Louis was able to get to overtime against the Stars on Thursday, thanks to vintage play from Jordan Binnington. He was the single reason why the Blues were able to salvage something from the game.
ARE YOU NOT ENTERTAINED?? #stlblues pic.twitter.com/oT7t0lwZTX
— St. Louis Blues (@StLouisBlues) October 13, 2023
Throughout an 82-game season, good teams have great goaltenders like Binnington to save them games or points. The difference between netting those points and not is often what separates the final wild card team and the rest of the league.
The defensive group for the St. Louis Blues was also impressive last night. Despite the mistake from Tyler Tucker on the Stars’ only goal to Jamie Benn, St. Louis did a solid job defending the middle of the ice.
There were many pros and cons from the entire roster last night. Tucker and Nick Leddy, in particular, stood out from the group. Leddy had multiple instances where he was able to skate the puck out of the Blues’ zone before creating offensive chances.
Tucker grabbed the lone goal of the game for St. Louis, making up for the defensive error earlier in the second period. Though there were many other chances for Tucker to make an impression on the game, and he rose to the occasion.
What a sight this is! #stlblues pic.twitter.com/FXbGYuJwvL
— St. Louis Blues (@StLouisBlues) October 13, 2023
If Colton Parayko, Justin Faulk, and Torey Krug can return to at least their career average, this Blues team may not squeak into the playoffs, but challenge the Minnesota Wild for third place in the Central Division.
Robert Thomas and Jordan Kyrou dominated the offensive play for the Blues against the Stars, and they will need to be the ones controlling the team’s offensive play for the whole season.
While no goals were scored by forwards from St. Louis, there were some positive things to take away. The fourth line of Alexey Toropchenko, Oskar Sundqvist, and Jake Neighbours seem to have given the team an identity line for the first time since the 2018-29 season.
Head coach Craig Berube even paired newcomer Kevin Hayes with Toropchenko and Sundqvist when the Blues needed a big, physical line at times throughout the contest.
It’s only been one game so far this season. Are the Blues really going to go 0-0-82? Probably. Either way, getting a point against the Stars on the road should look as good in October as it would in April.