Preview: Can the St. Louis Blues (42-28-7) make it 12 in a row against the Colorado Avalanche (47-26-4)? The Avalanche currently ranks third in the Central Division and fifth overall. Their 98 points put them 7 ahead of the Blues in the #1 Wild Card spot and 6 behind Dallas in the No. 2 seed. If the playoffs started today, the Avalanche would face the Stars, and the Blues would match up with the Golden Knights.
With Dylan Holloway's injury, tonight’s forward lineup… The defensive pairings remain the same. Mathieu Joseph will be back on the line with Oskar Sundqvist and Zack Bolduc, and Jimmy Snuggerud will move up to the top line with Robert Thomas and Pavel Buchnevich. Jordan Binnington will be in net, and Mackenzie Blackwood will be in net for the Avalanche.
Blues get on the board early in period 1…
Blues get an early penalty when Jordan Kyrou is crosschecked 32 seconds into the game. And Zack Bolduc fires a bomb from the slot. Robert Thomas with his 1st game assist (stay tuned) and Cam Fowler. Bolduc’s 17th and less than a minute in Blues are up 1 to 0.
Justin Faulk is called for a holding penalty…a weak call against Nathan MacKinnon with just under 5 minutes gone—3 shots allowed on the PP….5 total for the game.
Jake Neighbours makes it 2 nothing, Blues with 12:19 left…their 8th shot of the period…Thomas with an all-world pass, Brayden Schenn with the 2nd assist on Neighbours' 22nd goal.
Ryan Suter takes a slashing penalty with 5:33 left. Binnington is up to the challenge, making several point-blank saves…6 shots against on the PP.
Another penalty against the Blues with 1:53 left in the first…Sundqvist whistled…3 shots allowed…Blues hold on and lead after 1…2 to 0.
Shots on goal 17 to 12 advantage Avs.
Blues hold the 2 goal lead through period 2…
Pavel Buchnevich with an amazing backhand to beat Blackwood off a pass from Jimmy Snuggerud, and it is 3 to 0, one minute and 1 second into the period. Buchnevich’s 17th of the season and 100th of his Blues career…and Thomas's 3rd assist of the game.
With 12:41 left in the period the Blues go back on the powerplay. Bolduc again as he rips one top shelf over the blocker for his 18th of the year. Thomas his 4th assist and Fowler the 2nd assist. 4 to 0. PP is 2 for 2 with 2 shots.
Hattie watch!!
Colorado tries to get Binnington off his game as they take a goalie interference penalty with 6:46 left—no scoring on this PP.
With 4:28 left Nick Leddy blows a tire and it becomes a 2 on 1 and they beat Binnington and it’s 4 to 1.
Another misplay in the Blues end and it’s now 4 to 2 with 2:15 left. Binnington no chance on either of the 2 goals.
Period ends 4 to 2 and shots still in favor of Colorado 25 to 16.
Avalanche with a push...but the Blues hang on...
They announced at the beginning of the 3rd period that they removed the assist by Thomas on the Buchnevich goal…so he is down to 3 for the game.
Back-and-forth action in the first 10 minutes of the period…Binnington continues to dazzle with 33 saves…Blues with 20 shots and blocking many shots, 19 for the game…Blues lead by 2.
5 MINUTES!! Goalie pulled with 3 minutes left…and Colorado scores with 2:18 left…a MacKinnon shot from the point deflects off Justin Faulk and it's 4 to 3 (their 11th 6 on 5 goal of the year). Goalie pulled a 2nd time with 2 minutes left …and with 29 seconds left, Robert Thomas gets the empty net goal as it caroms off the post and in from the Blues blueline, and he’s back to 4 points in the game. 5 to 3 Blues. Fowler with another assist. Avs aren’t done as they pull the goalie again and score with 7 seconds left…5 to 4 as Binnington is screened and it’s deflected over his glove……Blues hold on and win it 5 to 4. They're 12th in a row, and shots were 39 to 22 for the Avs.