Preview: The St. Louis Blues (19-19-4) return home for a four-game homestand and face the Anaheim Ducks (17-18-5) for the first time this season. Defenseman Cam Fowler is facing his former team for the first time since being traded to the Blues on Dec. 14. Radek Faksa returns to the lineup for the second time since being cut with a skate blade on Dec. 10…a happy 31st birthday to Radek. Forward Brandon Saad is appearing in his 900th career game. Defenseman Ryan Suter appears in his 1,487th career game, moving him into a tie for 24th in NHL history with Wayne Gretzky. Joel Hofer starts in the net for the Blues. Lukas Dostal in the net for the Ducks.
Period 1 and the Blues explode with 4 goals…
At 2:45 into the period and the Blues get their first goal on their fourth shot when Robert Thomas gets his 10th of the season getting a rebound and banging it home. An unassisted goal.
Tyler Tucker makes it 2 to nothing, 4:31 into the game, taking advantage of a screen and beating the goalie blocker side. Oskar Sunqvist and Zack Bolduc assist on Tucker’s third career goal and first of the season.
The eighth shot of the game for the Blues is the third goal of the game when Jordan Kyrou at 6:40 backhands a rebound in of a Fowler shot…and the second assist to Brayden Schenn. Kyrou’s team-leading 19th of the season and his 4th goal in 6 games. 3 to zip…Blues haven’t allowed a Duck shot.
Blues to the powerplay with 11:40 left in the period. Anaheim is ranked 26th on the penalty kill…but the Blues go shotless on the PP.
The Ducks finally get a shot on goal with nine minutes left, while the Blues have 11.
6:05 left in the period and its now 4 to nothing Blues…Dylan Holloway on a feed from below the goal line from Kyrou…his 15th goal of the year…four unanswered goals…the second game in a row with that feat.
With 4 minutes left, the Ducks score on their 4th shot of the period beating Hofer with a deflection a few feet out in front of the net. 4 to 1 Blues.
Period 1 ends with the Blues leading in shots 16 to 8 and the 4 to 1 lead.
Blues extend the lead in Period 2…
Thomas gets his own rebound and at 4:45 into the period it's now 5 to 1, chipping it up over the goaltender…HATTY WATCH is on! 11th goal of the year. Pavel Buchnevich with the only assist.
Make it 6 to 1 8:02 into the period…Pavel Buchnevich on a power move to the net scores his …assists to Brandon Saad and Ryan Suter…and we have a goalie change…John Gibson takes over…6 goals on 22 shots. Second game in a row the Blues have chased the goalie.
The Ducks score their second goal with 5:22 left in the period…6 to 2 as the Ducks score on their 14th shot.
Ducks to the powerplay as Nathan Walker takes a penalty with 4:32 left in the period. Blues defend well and the Ducks are held scoreless on two shots.
Blues extend the lead in the period 6 to 2 and continue to lead the shots overall…26 to 16.
Period 3…
Not much was happening…at least from a goal scoring perspective…with 2:06 left the Blues Thomas takes an interference penalty…Ducks with their second powerplay.
Blues kill the penalty and finish an impressive win 6 to 2. A solid bounce back game after two losses on the road. Blues out-shoot the Ducks 34 to 23.
Blues back to 1 game above .500 with their 20th win.