Preview: The St. Louis Blues (24-25-4) earned their first win in franchise history over the Utah Hockey Club, 2-1, on Sunday. The Edmonton Oilers (32-16-4) have lost their last 2 games. Since the Blues last saw the Oilers on Dec. 7, Edmonton has a 17-6-2 record, including two four-game winning streaks. They currently are first in the Pacific Division. The Blues are 7 points behind Calgary for the final playoff spot.
Defenseman Nick Leddy returns to the lineup since the beginning of the season. Leddy will play on the third D-pair in place of Tyler Tucker, who is day-to-day with an upper-body injury suffered against Utah on Sunday. The fourth line of Alexey Toropchenko, Radek Faksa, and Nathan Walker is back together. Jordan Binnington in between the pipes and the Oilers have Stuart Skinner in the net. Ex-Blue Kasperi Kapanen playing in his 500th game.
First period is scoreless…
The first 10 minutes are tilted towards Edmonton as they have seven shots to the Blues one…Binnington is sharp…the Blues have given up two turnovers at their blueline allowing a couple of dangerous scoring chances. Not a smart play with the likels of McDavid and Draisaitl on the ice…
The Blues withstand a 13-shot push by the Oilers while only getting three shots themselves even though they were good scoring chances…5 minutes and 23 seconds of offensive time weaving through the Blues end…but the Blues weathered the storm while only spending 3+ minutes. No scoring.
Oilers score on the powerplay in period 2…
Cam Fowler takes a slashing penalty 4:30 into the period. The Oilers with the 8th best powerplay in the league. And despite Binnington making some big saves Connor McDavid comes off the wall and rifles one over the glove of Binnington. Their 18th shot of the game. 1 to 0 Oilers At 5:50. Oilers are 18-4-4 when scoring first. McDavid with a 7 game-scoring streak against the Blues.
Jake Neighbours denied 5-hole on a breakaway with 8:50 left in the 2nd…the Blues 12th shot of the game…Skinner with a poke check to knock the puck away. In 2020, the Blues took Neighbours with the No. 26 pick in the draft. The Oilers had the No. 14 pick that year. Who’d they take? Dylan Holloway.
With 3:08 left in the period Faksa gets nabbed for a high stick. The Blues get a massive kill with the period winding down to hold the score 1 to 0. Oilers have 22 shots thru 2 periods to the Blues 13.
Period 3…
One minute into the period Fowler with another penalty…this time a trip 200 feet from his net. Oilers 1 for 2 with 5 shots on prior powerplays…and they kill this one off. HUGE KILL!
A big hit on Brayden Schenn draws an interference penalty on the Oilers…Blues needed this one…can they capitalize? And Jordan Kyrou gets his 23rd goal as he jams in a rebound of a puck that bounces off Schenn in the crease…Dylan Holloway with the second assist as he made the initial shot that hit ricochet to Schenn. 1 to 1 at 5:12…their 18th shot.
Colton Parayko gives the Blues the lead with 11:02 left as he gets a backdoor pass from Robert Thomas and Colt55 gets his 12th on a one-timed blast. Pavel Buchnevich with the second assist. 2 to 1 Blues!! Outstanding feed from Thomas. Their 20th shot. Three Blues on top of the crease putting the pressure on.
The Blues continue to put pressure on as they have found life…two great scoring chances…as they try to go up by two. Including Thomas missing his second empty net of the night.
5 Minutes!! The Blues are 2-22-1 when trailing after 2…no comeback wins at home when trailing after 2…the fewest 3rd period goals in the NHL…
Oilers pull the goalie with 2:25 left and it doesn’t take them long ..11 seconds to tie the game with the extra attacker…Draisaitl with a one-timer…his 37th goal…Binnington had no chance…their 34th shot. Tied at 2 with 2 minutes left.
Period 3 ends with each team getting a point…Oilers with 36 shots to 21 for the Blues.
OVERTIME!! The Blues have a big edge in faceoff wins at over 60%...and in the initial faceoff in OT the Oilers won it…refs missed a holding penalty against Draisaitl as he pulled down Thomas. Phillip Broberg with a chance…Skinner with the glove save. McDavid misses an open net…but a few seconds later McDavid shimmies down the middle and drops it to Connor Brown who buries it…Binnington no chance…The Oilers win it 3 to 2.
Note: ex-Blue Brandon Saad gets his first goal as Golden Knight in defeat.