The St. Louis Blues have been notorious fo slow starts, but even when they've started well, it's been a mixed bag. So, when the Blues scored in the first two minutes, it was hard to know what to expect.
Jordan Kyrou got the first goal of the game for the home team. He intercepted a pass from the Philadelphia Flyers, took the puck in on a break and sniped one just 1:19 into the period.
About seven minutes later, the game was tied. St. Louis lost a board battle near the offensive blue line, the Flyers came down the right with speed and Trevor Zegras scored after a drop pass and a quick backhand, forehand.
The Blues turned it back around rather quickly. At 9:42, Robert Thomas drove down the middle, did a little button hook, and found Jimmy Snuggerud for the upper-shelf shot to regain the lead.
St. Louis had a solid power play to open the second period, but couldn't get one. They did pick up their third goal almost seven minutes in when a faceoff win and quick pass found Justin Faulk for a one timer and it was 3-1.
That lasted less than 30 seconds when Christian Dvorak swept in a backhander. It was 3-2 when Faulk blocked a shot, but it went right to Philly. Jordan Binnington made the subsequent save, but everyone was scrambling and Dvorak knocked it in.
It got wild in the third period. The Blues scored early with Dylan Holloway making it 4-3 just 40 seconds in.
It was 5-3 right around the five minute mark. Snuggerud slid a nice pass to Thomas in the slot and the quick shot scored for Thomas' second even-strength goal.
Unfortunately, the Flyers erased another two goal lead. Matthew Kessel blew a tire on a spin move, turning it over to Philly on the right circle and another drop pass led to a goal for a 5-4 score with about 12 minutes left.
At 10:29, it was tied. The Flyers caught the Blues being lax in their defensive zone and a failure to clog up the middle led to a chip shot from the high slot and a 5-5 game.
Despite some chances for both sides, nobody finished the game in regulation. The Blues didn't even touch the puck the last time they were in OT, but they flipped the script this time, owning the puck until there was only about two minutes left.
However, it felt like that wouldn't be enough. One turnover led to a break for the Flyers and Pavel Buchnevich tripped up Zegras for a penalty shot. Binnington made the save, which kept the hope for two points alive.
Binnington made a big blocker save with about 1:20 left as well. He also made a glove save on a two-on-one in the final minute. Kyrou hit the post at the buzzer. It likely wouldn't have counted had it gone in, but it at least gave the Blues a little offensive life.
It didn't translate. The Flyers got one goal in the shootout and the Blues missed all three chances of their own. Again, it's a pathetic way to end a game, but it is what it is as St. Louis continues to prove they don't have a prayer if it's not ended in OT.
Con: Shootout
It's well documented that I hate three-on-three and the shootout. It is what the rules are, so you have to find ways to still win.
The Blues are just trash at shootouts. Give me whatever stats you want, but the eye test tells me they're garbage.
It's a mental thing. There's too much talent there to be so bad at it, but they overthink everything.
Thomas didn't accomplish anything. Snuggerud actually made a move, but pushed it too far out and couldn't get it on net and then Holloway just shot wide. Not only are they not able to get the goalie to bite, but they aren't even forcing saves. I just automatically chalk it up as an L when the Blues go to a shootout.
Pro: Offense
The Blues' offense has been hit or miss this season, but they managed to tie their team best in terms of goals scored in a game. The Blues put up five on the Vancouver Canucks earlier in the year and now scored five against the Flyers.
On top of the goals, it was who scored. The Blues have been needing their top guys to get going and they did.
Thomas, Holloway, Kyrou, Snuggerud and Faulk are all guys this team relies on. They came up big, with each getting a goal and three of them having multi-point games.
Con: Pavel Buchnevich
On the plus side, this was a game where I saw some good effort from Buchnevich. He often glides around, doing nothing, but in this game he was trying.
The disappointing thing is he may be trying too hard. He's stumbling, getting frustrated and putting himself in bad spots.
I almost give him a pass for the trip on Zegras in OT. Zegras was going to get a breakaway one way or the other.
The problem was he wasn't strong enough on the puck in several key situations. Even when he got stopped on his couple good chances, he'd track the puck down and turn it over on weak passes back down the wall. I feel for the guy because I know he cares, but it's just not looking good in any phase right now.
Pro: Jordan Binnington
Jamie Rivers put it perfectly in the postgame show. If anyone says "Oh, another rough night for Binnington" they're automatically telling you they didn't watch the game.
The Blues goaltender might not have faced a ton of rubber, but they were almost all grade-A chances late in the game. The Blues don't even get a point without Binnington, plain and simple.
Overview
I usually consider myself Mr. Positive compared to a lot of people, but we can't keep hanging our hats on baby steps. Yes, this team played much better on the offensive side and I like how the top six is coming together.
That being said, you have two two-goal leads. You cannot lose that game.
The Blues aren't that bad a defensive team, but they're just being lax at all the right times. You score a goal, or go up by two and you need to clamp it down for a shift or two. Instead, the Blues just kind of play like they've done their job and they'll see out the rest of the game. You have to absorb the opponent's push and claim the game.
It's good players making bone-headed mistakes too. Philip Broberg is an excellent player, but he's not at all in good defensive position on the Zegras tip-in goal.
I don't blame Kessel for falling, but teams are learning that if you pressure the Blues, they freak out and make mistakes. The book is out and it's written in big, easy-to-read, bold letters.
It's good to get a point, but this was the Blues game to lose and they did. There's good things going on, but there's nothing good about this result.