Preview: The Winnipeg Jets (2-0) enjoyed their home ice. Now it’s the St. Louis Blues (0-2) turn to see if they can do the same…home sweet home for games 3 and 4…the Blues finished the regular season winning their last 12 games…24-14-3 at home overall. If there was ever a time when the Blues needed to make that home mark count, it is coming up in the next two games, Games 3 and 4 of their Western Conference First Round series against the Winnipeg Jets, after dropping the first two games on the road. Last line change…the incredible energy of the whole crowd…Let’s Go BLUES!!
Lineup changes…Alexandre Texier is in at forward on the line with Zack Bolduc and Oskar Sundqvist. Back to the conventional 12 forwards and 8 defense…Ryan Suter sits in favor of Tyler Tucker. Suter’s game streak broken…
Period 1…Blues strike fast and often
What a start…48 seconds in, Pavel Buchnevich kicks it towards the net and then smartly swats it with his stick into the net…Jimmy Snuggerud and Cam Fowler with assists…Fowler shoots from the point. Snuggerud deflects the puck to Buchnevich. 1 to 0 Blues!!
At 1:58, Robert Thomas is tripped and the Blues go to the power play. A shot by Thomas is redirected in the slot by Buchnevich, and it’s 2 to 0, 3:11 into the game. Fowler with another assist. The two fastest goals in a Blues playoff game since 1996. Hattie watch is on!!!
An amazing start, and Hellebuyck is on his heels. Both goals high over the glove side…the trend continues…5 minutes in and the Blues have 7 shots to zero for the Jets. Over 6 minutes before the Jets get their first shot on goal. Blues continue to play physical…hitting consistently…19 to 5 with 8 minutes left and a 4 on 4 after a scrum in the corner.
And it’s 3 to 0 with 4:09 left…Cam Fowler gets up ice down the middle and fires a shot past Hellebuyck…his 3rd point of the game ..a great feed from Thomas to give Fowler a free path to the net…and yes high glove side…Buchnevich an assist…his 3rd point.
At the end of the first 20 minutes…Blues up 3 to 0. Shots 15 for the Blues and 7 for the Jets. 37 shot attempts by the Blues…their most all season!! Hits 39 to 23 in favor of the Blues.
Period 2…Blues hold onto the 3 goal lead
Need to keep up the intensity and physical play for 60 minutes…something they haven’t done in the first two games.
Blues go to the powerplay 5:35 into the period as Sundqvist is tripped. Luke Schenn’s 2nd penalty of the game…but it’s short-lived as Thomas hooks a Jet player 12 seconds into the PP. 4 on 4 for 1:48.
The Jets get a powerplay as Philip Broberg is called for hooking with 10:30 left in the period. Binnington with an unbelievable glove save on a one timer…play under review to see if the puck crossed the goal line…Toronto situation room for the decision… It’s close…IT'S NO GOAL!! Jets with one shot on the PP are 1 for 8 in the series.
Shots are hard to come by 3 for the Jets and 2 for the Blues with 8 minutes left.
With 7:25 left Brayden Schenn gets hooked and back to the powerplay. Blues with 1 shot.
Jets to the powerplay as Bolduc takes an ill-advised slashing penalty…1:41 left in period 2…hard to keep giving the best powerplay team in the league chances with the man advantage…Blues hold them off as the period ends.
3 to 0 through 40 minutes. Shots on goal: Blues 21 – Jets 12. Hits: Blues 49 – Jets 40.
Period 3…Blues keep on scoring...
Blues to kill off 19 seconds of Jets PP…no problem for the Blues…1 for 9 now for the Jets on the PP.
A defensive lapse leaves a Jet wide open in front, and a shot from the slot beats Binnington at 4:32. 3 to 1.
But the Blues come back as Robert Thomas and Pavel Buchnevich steal the puck from Hellebuyck behind the net, and Buchnevich tucks it into the empty net…26 seconds after the Jets' goal. Hattie is complete!! Buchnevich with 4 points and Thomas with an assist for 3 points. 4 to 1 Blues as the hats rain down!!
Blues to the powerplay with 13:30 left…and then another penalty called on the Jets and the Blues have a 5 on 3 for 1:09. Jordan Kyrou makes it 5 to 1 with 34 seconds left in the 5 on 3…a lethal shot from the slot…guess where…high glove side…Fowler with an assist…4 points night for Cam.
It's 6 to 1 Blues as Alexey Toropchenko redirects a pass from Jake Neighbours after Radek Faksa makes a bone-crunching check to break loose the puck. And Hellebuyck is pulled…Comrie takes over with 9:28 left.
8:38 left and scuffles lead to a Jets powerplay…going to be chippy the rest of the way…Jets score on a blast from the blueline…Binnington screened and bumped…6 to 2 with just over 7 minutes left.
Chippiness continues and the Blues get a 4-minute powerplay as Faksa draws the penalties with 3:48 left…off the face off, Fowler passes to Colton Parayko, whose slapshot beats Comrie and the extra point is good ...7 to 2. Neighbours with the 2nd assist…Fowler scored his 5th point of the game.
Now a 2-man advantage with 2:32 left as Luke Schenn repeatedly cross-checks Snuggerud…41 seconds of 5 on 3.
Hits Blues 63…65 Jets. Shots 28 Blues…17 Jets…and the Blues hold serve in game 3…7 to 2…
3rd Star…Robert Thomas - 2nd Star Pavel Buchnevich – 1st Star Cam Fowler!!!