Preview: The St. Louis Blues (31-27-7) are in Pittsburgh to face the Pittsburgh Penguins (26-31-10) who are 8th in their division. Cam Fowler returns Nick Leddy will shift back onto the first pair alongside him and Matthew Kessel will sit…Jordan Binnington is in the net and now has a .500 record with 20 wins (his 5th season with at least 20 wins)…the Penguins start Tristan Jarry. Jordan Kyrou plays in his 400th game.
Blues didn't get any help in the Vancouver-Calgary game last night, with the Canucks winning 4-3 in a shootout and both teams grabbing points.2nd WC - Calgary (71 pts, 64gm). Next - Vancouver (71 pts, 65 gm), St. Louis (69 pts, 65 gm), Utah (69 pts, 65 gm). The Blues are 3-1-1 on this 6-game road trip.
Penguins score on the first shot of the game…
At 2:17 the first shot on goal by either team evades Binnington over the glove, a shot from the blue line and the Penguins are up by one.
Blues overall have the edge in play over the first 10 minutes…nine shots to one…Pittsburgh is still up 1-0.
The first period ends with the Blues outshooting the Penguins 16 to five…but are down by one.
Penguins pile on in period 2…
Penguins make it 2-0, 2:20 into the period on a shot from the faceoff circle to the left of Binnington…this shot is off the far post stick side and in…their 7th shot. A second goal by a defenseman for the Pens. Both goals certainly seemed fairly routine ..but each cleanly beat Binnington.
Halfway through the game the Blues control the shots on goal 22 to nine…in a penalty free game…
It's until…8:53 left and the Blues get a powerplay as Brayden Schenn gets high-sticked. Zack Bolduc takes a pass from Robert Thomas from behind the net and Bolduc goes to one knee to score his 12th goal of the year. Pavel Buchnevich with the 2nd assist. 2-1 with 8:25 left in the period.
With 2:18 left the Penguins make it 3-1 when a Pens player is left alone at the backdoor for an easy tap in…no chance for Binnington on this one.
Jordan Kyrou draws a crosscheck with eight seconds left in the period as he was on the doorstep with a shot…1:52 will carry over.
The Blues have carried the play…but on the short end of a 3-1 game. Blues with 27 shots…56 attempts and 15 scoring chances. Penguins with 17 shots…30 attempts and 9 scoring chances…
Penguins hold onto the lead in the 3rd…
Hollywood Holloway makes it 3 to 2 on the powerplay with a one-timer blast from the faceoff circle and the Blues are 2 for 2 on the PP with Holloway’s 21st of the year: Justin Faulk and Jake Neighbours with the assists. The goal was scored at 1:26.
The Penguins get the 2-goal lead back with 12:45 left…a shot beats Binnington glove side…another goal he should have stopped…and that’s 4 goals on 19 shots…Binnington to the bench replaced by Joel Hofer. 4 to 2 Penguins.
Alexey Toropchenko makes an incredible move down the middle of the ice with a burst of speed…goes coast to coast splits the defense and flips a shot up into the top shelf. 8:56 into the period. His 3rd of the year makes it 4 to 3. Ryan Suter with the only assist.
5 Minutes!! Blues pull the goalie with 2:28 left in the period…6 attackers…Blues are desperate down by 1…pressure is on…but the Penguins get an empty net goal with 7 seconds left.
Blues outshoot the Penguins 36 to 22 but lose 5 to 3. Only the 2nd loss by the Blues in regulation in 11 games. Tristan Jarry the difference in this game. A tough loss.