Preview: The St. Louis Blues (31-27-6) sit just one point behind the Vancouver Canucks, who currently hold the final Wild Card spot in the Western Conference with 69 points. The Los Angeles Kings (31-20-9) enter Saturday’s game on a five-game losing streak, with their most recent loss coming in the 3-2 shootout loss to the Blues on Wednesday. Two of the Kings’ last three defeats have come against the Blues.
Darcy Kuemper is in the net again for the Kings and Joel Hofer for the Blues I am a bit surprised they didn’t come back with Binnington with the playoffs on the line. The Blues are without Cam Fowler whose wife gave birth to their second child back in STL. Matthew Kessel is in.
Blues have an overturned goal and Kings take a one goal lead through period 1…
Blues to the powerplay 28 seconds into the game as Dylan Holloway is tripped up. And then…Just 36 seconds into the game Brayden Schenn knocks down a puck and it pops over Kuemper and it’s under review…seemed like when it was on edge there was white between the puck and the line…NO GOAL! WOW…
Shots on the PP…2. Blues with 4 shots at the 5 minute mark and the Kings 1.
Not sure what gets counted as a shot on goal this season as shots are added and taken away from the ticker as the game goes on…seemingly for no reason…
The Kings with only 1 shot through 14:45 and then a shot from the blueline is tipped in the slot and evades Hofer over his shoulder… who didn’t have a chance… 1-0 Kings on their 2nd shot.
The period ends with the Blues leading in shots 7 to 2…however, the Kings lead by 1. Blues no shots in the last 7+ minutes of the period.
Kings have a goal waved off...Period 2…no scoring…
A 1:13 in a Kings player on a break runs into Hofer and gets a goalie interference penalty…takes out Hofer and the net off its moorings. Blues to their 2nd powerplay. 2 shots…no goals.
The Kings on their 4th shot score and the Blues challenge for offsides at 3:51…clearly offsides and the goal is called back…so take that shot off the board…back to 3 SOG for the Kings.
At the halfway point the Kings have only musteree 6 shots and the Blues almost double them at 11…still 1 to 0 Kings.
Kings get their first powerplay as Radek Faksa is called for tripping with 9:47 left. Only 1 SOG by the Kings on the PP.
With 4:24 left in the period shots are tied at 11…
With 7 seconds left, Justin Faulk takes a tripping penalty…1:53 will carry over to the 3rd period. No scoring in the 2nd period…shots are tied at 11.
Blues tie it up in Period 3…
Kings with the powerplay to start the period…1 SOG and it was a great save by Hofer…
At 4:16 Nick Leddy comes off the bench and takes a pass at the blue line and one time a slapshot that gets through…Kuemper never saw it with a screen in front…Leddy’s first of the season from Jake Neighbours drop-back pass. Zack Bolduc with the 2nd assist. We are tied at 1.
5 Minutes!!! The Kings now have the edge in shots 21 to 19…tied at 1. 21 shots blocked by the Blues.
And we once again go to overtime!! 1 point secured…need the 2nd point.
Shots through regulation Kings 23 Blues 20.
OT!! 27 seconds in…the Blues lose the puck along the boards in the defensive zone and a snapshot beats Hofer over his stick-side shoulder as Hofer goes down. Kings get the extra point.