The Blues are 11-12-1 against a Philadelphia Flyers team that is one game over .500 at 11-10-3, and new Head Coach Jim Montgomery in his home debut can become the first head coach in franchise history to start his Blues tenure 3-0. A battle of 5th place teams in their respective divisions.
Blues struggle to get momentum…
Flyers go up by 1 at 9:15. A 2 on 1 leads to a back door tip in goal that beats Binnington low to the glove side….no chance for Jordan to make the save. Blues struggling to get a shot on goal…getting there first shot over 11 minutes into the first period. 1 to 0 Flyers to end the period. Shots were 10 to 6 in favor of Philly.
2nd period…need shots!
Blues go on the powerplay 40 seconds into the period after a retaliation penalty on Zack Bolduc who made a big hit on a Flyer player behind the net. The Flyers are the 3rd best penalty kill team in the NHL. Blues had 4 shots on the powerplay with a couple "grade A" chances. As the penalty ended the Flyer player comes out of the penalty box and has a breakaway in on Binnington and he makes an outstanding save.
Blues at 5 minutes in go on the kill. Flyers have 2 shots, and the Blues survive. Back to the penalty kill for the Blues with 7 minutes left in the period. Brayden Schenn on 2 on 1 has a great chance and fires one glove side…Kolosov makes the save. No shots for the Flyers…solid kill.
Binnington with the save of the game with 1 minute left…an unbelievable glove save to keep the second period scoreless…1 to 0 Flyers. Shots…Flyers 26 to 15 for the Blues.
3rd period…need a comeback…
Binnington has been the difference so far…need the offense to respond.
Blues get a powerplay 1 minute in…only 1 shot…not enough offensive zone time. With 8:49 left the Blues finally get one past Kolosov on their 21st shot…Dylan Holloway fires a wrist shot top shelf over the glove for his 7th of the season …Schenn and Matthew Kessel with the assists. Tied at 1. A short-lived tie game…With 7:58 left no one picks up a lose puck in the crease after Binnington makes a sprawling save…and the Flyers go back on top…2 to 1. Their 27th shot.
With 2:10 left Kyrou is hooked and the Blues go back to the powerplay. Binnington pulled for a 6 on 4 advantage and finally after a scramble in front of the net and Jake Neighbours scores his 8th to tie it up at 19:41, Jordan Faulk with the assist…we are going to OVERTIME! Shots in regulation were 30 to 27 for the Flyers.
OT!!
It only takes 18 seconds...The Blues get the initial possession but the Flyers get a breakaway goal after a turnover as Binnington tracks the puck, but it slips in…Blues get a point and lose 3 to 2...
Notes: Blues have killed off 19 of 19 penalties…second game in a row the Blues lose by 1 to the Flyers…Blues out hit the Flyers 27 to 12…Broberg had 28 shifts and 24+minutes of ice time, Faulk the only other Blue with more ice time...Binner stood on his head..."Hollywood" Holloway??