The Monty Era continues…New Head Coach Jim Montgomery earned his first win behind the bench for the St. Louis Blues (10-12-1) on Monday. The New Jersey Devils (15-7-2) are on a three-game win streak.
The Blues look to keep the offensive push after having 40-plus shots on goal against the NY Rangers. 5-on-5 they had one of their best overall games including ranking tied for first in goals with three. They wrap up their three-game road trip facing the Devils for the first time this season. Six of the next eight games are on the road. Jacob Markstrom was in net for the Devils.
Nine seconds…yep that’s all it took for Robert Thomas to get the Blues on the board…a shot blasted from his knees, taking a great backhand pass by Pavel Buchnevich off a 2-on-1. Justin Faulk with the second assist. Amazing 11 seconds to score last week…nine seconds this game! Now the fastest goal to start a game this season in the NHL!!
Blues go on the powerplay 4:20 in…too many men against the Devils…as the penalty ends Dylan Holloway fires one from the right faceoff dot over Markstrom’s glove at 6:23, his fifth of the year…up 2 to 0 on seven shots to zero for the Devils.
Brandon Saad with the assist. Only the second time this season the Blues have scored twice in a period. The Devils get their first shot on goal with eight minutes left in the period. Blues go up 3 to 0 with 3:55 left in Period 1…yes period numero uno…first time all season the Blues have scored three goals in the first period. Holloway gets his second of the game, his sixth of the season, assisted by Jake Neighbours. Hat trick watch now on for Holloway.
Blues shorthanded with 2:40 left against the second-best power play in the NHL…only one shot allowed by the Blues and the period ends 3 to 0. 10 shots for the Blues…7 for the Devils.
Devils put the pressure ON in the second!
Need to withstand the Devils push…Binnington standing tall! Blues short-handed to start the second period…intense pressure by the Devils with four shots but the Blues hold them scoreless.
Blues turn to have a shot drought…13 to 1 in the second period…19 to 11 for the Devils overall…with the Devils having 56 attempts. Blues still lead 3 to 0…but lose Pavel Buchnevich to a lower-body injury. Really???
Defend the house…BINNINGTON looking for win No. 152! And…shoot the puck!
Blues shorthanded 1:09 into the period…the Devils score 31% of the time on the power play…so essentially 1 out of 3…this is their third of the game…one shot against by the Devils and they are 0 for 3.
Blues have two powerplays in the third...no shots on the first one and four shots on the second one...no goals!
Blues hold on...and hold off the Devils shutting them out 3 to 0
Notes: Blues had no shots on goal from 3:25 on the second period until 10:50 left in the third, over 25 minutes without a shot…scored three goals on first 11 shots…16th career shutout for Binnington…
Buchnevich continues his one point per game average against the Devils in his career...Holloway led the team with five shots on goal...Devils outshot the Blues 31 to 20...Blues blocked 24 shots...