St. Louis Blues Pros/Cons 2024-25 Game 12

The St. Louis Blues just can't get things rolling in the first periods. They allowed the first goal of the game in Philadelphia, which led to a Halloween night loss and had another early goal go in against the Toronto Maple Leafs.

The Blues were trying to take the physicality to the Leafs, outhitting them 4-0 in the first five minutes. Unfortunately, the offense wasn't springing from that.

St. Louis had two shots early on and then Toronto got the goal. Ryan Suter didn't put enough on the clearance and Mitch Marner got lost in the corner, which left him unguarded for a deflection on the shot from the point. Marner picked up his own rebound, kicked it to the stick and tucked it past Jordan Binnington for the 1-0 lead.

The Blues only managed four total shots in the first. The Leafs clogged everything in the middle of the ice and had two or more guys converging on the puck almost at all times.

One of St. Louis' best looks was a breakout play with Jordan Kyrou alone in front. He went to the backhand, but couldn't elevate it over Joseph Woll's right pad.

The Blues would tie it at 3:29 of the period. Colton Parayko smashed a one-timer from the right point and Oskar Sundqvist provided the screen for a 1-1 score.

Things went from an ultra low to a high pretty quickly for St. Louis near the midway point. They lost Philip Broberg to a potential knee injury when a Leaf fell on the back of his leg. Moments later, Kyrou drove the zone and flung one in front, but it went off a stick and then off the defender's skate to make it 2-1 with a bit more than 11 minutes left.

About four minutes later, the Blues increased the lead to 3-1. Parayko got his second off a blistering one-timer from the left this time, clanking it off the far post and in. It came just a moment after the power play ended, so it went in the book as an even-strength goal.

The Leafs had a power play to end the second period, but Binnington killed it off. He made a good initial save with seconds left and then lunged out to kick away the centering pass.

Binnington had to make several key saves to preserve the two-goal lead, including another big stop on another power play. Unfortunately, the pressure eventually paid off.

The Maple Leafs flung one on goal from the near wall and Binnington made the save, but the puck stayed loose just to the left of his glove. The Leafs were able to fish it out and just tuck it past the left pad to make it 3-2.

Toronto pulled the goalie and Binnington made one of the most awkward saves you'll ever see with 90 seconds left, but he kept it out. The Blues battled hard and finally got an empty netter.

Parayko sprang Pavel Buchnevich up the right wing, but Buch almost waited too long. He was clearly eyeing a pass to Brayden Schenn, but finally just took the shot into the empty net and the Blues finished it off 4-2.

Pro: Colton Parayko

For years, fans have been begging Parayko to shoot the puck. Nobody needs him to be Cale Makar or Bobby Orr, but there's just a reluctance to unleash that booming shot that it's got into his head.

For one night, at least, we saw the potential of Parayko's shot unleashed. Both were Al MacInnis-style wind ups and one-time shots.

The first one was a great shot off a tough pass coming off the wall. To square himself properly and get the shot right where it needed to be showcased his skill.

The second was pure power. Parayko was on the left, so the pass came right into his wheelhouse and he shot a laser beam back across the grain.

It was a three-point night for the big man since he did get an assist on the empty net goal too. It would have been nice for him to cash in on a hat trick, but the W is more important.

Con: Philip Broberg injury

I'll be the first to admit that I've been wrong about injuries in the past, but I don't have a positive outlook on this one. The way it happened was a good example of why chop blocks were outlawed in football.

Broberg is focused on the puck in front of him and suddenly a full-grown man, likely weighing near 200 lbs with the equipment, rolls up on the back of his leg and from the side. Joints just aren't expecting to bear that kind of weight.

I feel like best case scenario is there is no structural damage and he misses a couple weeks. Worst case is that one of the knee ligaments went out and he is done for the season.

You never want to lose any player with a long-term injury, but least of all him. Broberg has been one of the team's best defenders in all phases of the game, so losing him so early in the season would possibly be as bad or worse than losing Robert Thomas.

Pro: Jordan Binnington

Although you wouldn't guess it based on the number of shots, the Blues actually played a decent game defensively. Nevertheless, Binnington was tested often.

He faced 38 shots and turned away 36 of them. A lot of those were high quality.

There may no have been a true highlight reel save that would wow fans outside of St. Louis, but Binnington was on his game. He was the player of the night for the local broadcast and second star of the night in the arena.

Additionally, he tied Jake Allen for second most wins in Blues history.

Pro/Con: Ryan Suter

I don't remember it as much with Nashville, but I do remember it with Dallas. Suter is kind of dirty.

I list it as a con because that's not my thing. I don't like when guys take borderline cheapshots that could potentially get you put in the penalty box.

I list it as a pro because the Blues needed that. They got pushed around so much last season and guys just stood there and took it or didn't respond for their teammate. Suter is not letting anything go without a response, but in a good way (as long as you're a Blues fan).

He straight up open hand punched a guy near the net in the third period. How that didn't get him put in the box is beyond me, but if it gets the team juiced up and willing to mix it up for their teammates, so much the better.

Overview

This game was a good example of the ups and downs we are going to have in 2024-25. The Blues were pretty lame in the first period and probably lucky to only be down 1-0.

They had a tremendous second period and a gritty third period, deserving the win they got. However, it just makes you wonder why they completely revert to the other way in other games.

Toronto is a good team that is playing a harder nosed style now that Craig Berube is there. The Blues have beaten them twice in less than two weeks.

Yet, they turn around and get killed by Ottawa, lose to Montreal and drop a game to Philadelphia. All three of those are borderline playoff teams at best.

Where is the disconnect? I get it's tough to play on the road for nine days, but the effort wasn't even there in spots. The Ottawa game was just puzzling as to how the team could be that embarrassing.

Then you come home and it all clicks in the last 40 minutes? I'll take it, but it's odd.

It was great to see Chief back and see him crack a smile at the crowd reaction. It was better to see the team beat him, even if I'd like him to succeed in Toronto to a certain degree.

It was nice to have Binnington pick up another win to move up the all-time charts. He's going to have the most wins in Blues histoy this season, which makes it that much more hilarious that there is still any debate as to his quality.

Kyrou continues to look more comfortable in tough scenarios. He still coughs up the puck a little too much, but he's much stronger in possession.

Having given Buchnevich so much grief earlier in the week, it was good to see him get involved in the physical aspect, getting in a fight and also getting a goal.

Even though it's early in the season, as fans, we literally have to take each performance as its own thing. There didn't seem to be any carryover from the Flyers game, other than a poor first period, but that's a normal thing overall.

I don't think this game will carry over into the November 5th game against Tampa Bay either. If the Blues have the same kind of performance, they can definitely win. The problem is, you just don't know night to night.