The St. Louis Blues tend to play well against the Winnipeg Jets in spurts. How well they finish is often a much different story.
Following those guidelines, the Blues opened reasonably well in Winnipeg, drawing 0-0 after the first period. They created a few good chances and defended well enough.
There were the same chances given up we've seen time and time again. The Jets best look came roughly midway through when they connected on a potential backdoor play. However, the hard pass caused Kyle Connor to settle the puck, which allowed Joel Hofer to get across and make a great pad save.
Conversely, the Blues did generate some rush plays. Zach Bolduc had a breakaway that was stopped by the blocker and St. Louis also failed to convert an odd-man rush.
St. Louis didn't get their legs under them until about halfway through the period, which continues a worrying trend of not being ready at the puck drop. Nevertheless, it was an evenly played period.
The Blues earned a power play about seven minutes into the second, after a decent start to the frame. They created some good passes and a little havoc in front but failed to score.
Not quite six minutes later, the Blues went on the kill. They actually had two shorthanded breaks into the zone, but couldn't score there. However, they really didn't give the Jets anything offensively either.
The second period seemed to be ending poorly when Jake Neighbours got called for a penalty with about three minutes left. It ended as a four-on-four since the Jets took an interference call on the very next faceoff.
The Blues capitalized on that, getting a two-on-one where Jordan Kyrou got a chance off the pad and was kicked in by the defender. On the very next shift, the Blues made it 2-0 when Dylan Holloway sliced through two defenders and chipped in his own rebound.
St. Louis came out well in the third period. They had some early backhand chances, including a good scoop shot from Neighbours in the slot, but it remained 2-0 in the first five minutes.
The Blues would increase the lead through hard work. Scott Perunovich kept it in the zone and then Holloway won a puck battle on the perimeter and kept it alive from his backside too. Kyrou managed to do a spin-o-rama shot from the high slot and scored on the blocker side for the 3-0 lead.
St. Louis got a power play almost immediately after. The Blues kept turning it over and the Jets had shorthanded looks, including a breakaway, which Hofer stopped.
The Jets pulled their goalie pretty early, but it paid off. They fired a shot from the right wing and Mark Scheifele knocked the rebound in to make it 3-1 with 4:15 left.
However, when the Jets pulled their goalie again, the Blues scored into the empty net almost immediately. Robert Thomas got the puck up the zone after a faceoff win and he slid it almost 200 feet for a 4-1 lead. That would be the final as the Blues improved to 3-0-1 under Jim Montgomery.
Pro: Hofer
The only negative for this performance is that it only exacerbates the "goalie controversy" that online trolls propagate. We can't be happy to have two, good goaltenders, so there always has to be an argument about how this guy is better than that, etc.
Putting that aside, Hofer did exactly what you want your goalie to do. He stopped all the shots he should have and came up with big saves on several shots he had no business getting.
Hofer stopped a breakaway when the Blues were up a man. That kept the sizeable lead intact, not allowing the Jets any real thought of a comeback.
He stopped that fantastic backdoor shot where he kicked the puck out. The game was scoreless at that point, which really changed the complexion of the entire contest.
The Blues did well defensively, only allowing 22 shots on Hofer, but he earned the player of the game, which the TV crew gave him.
Con: Turnovers
Win or lose, the Blues just cough the puck up way too much. When your hometown broadcast crew mentions the turnovers being way too many in the first period alone, you know things are bad.
St. Louis finished the game with 18 statistical giveaways, so who knows how many times they just turned the puck over. Beyond whatever number that might have been, it was potentially disastrous in the third period.
With the Blues on the power play, they gave the puck up at least three times there, if not more. It led to a breakaway and almost led to odd-man rushes in the other direction too.
Turnovers happen and even Montgomery told the radio crew that if you limit a game to two or three odd-man rushes the other way, you're doing ok. The issue is that the Blues continually turn the puck over in the worst areas on the ice.
It may not have cost them in this game, but it's not sustainable and will cost them in more games than not.
Pro: Broberg
It's hard to pinpoint any single thing from this game alone that makes him a positive, but it's more and more clear how big an impact his loss had. The Blues are simply a different team.
Broberg has been very good paired with Justin Faulk in other games but looked just as comfortable on the top pair with Colton Parayko. He was second on the team in minutes and shifts and also had an assist, two blocks, and two hits.
Pro: Kyrou
As much as I, personally, like Kyrou, he's earned a lot of detractors he has. However, if those people are fair, they have to admit he's a different player this year.
The turnovers still happen, but they happen with everyone on this team. What's more impressive is Kyrou's strength on the puck and determination to make up for his mistakes when they do happen.
He may not score as much as we'd like, but he's a threat to other teams now and they play him like it. Even facing some of their better players, he's finding ways to score now.
Maybe the first goal was fortunate since it was kicked in, but Kyrou was in the right spot and driving to the net. His second goal came from prime goal-scorer territory. He's no longer floating around the outside, but getting to those important areas.
Overview:
The Blues ran into the Jets at the right time, since Winnipeg had already lost three games in a row and their coach did not like the amount of odd-man rushes they were giving up. That said, the Blues earned this win - it was not handed to them.
They were the better team in all three phases. They had the better goaltending, though Connor Hellebuyck did make some big saves.
The Blues were the better defensive team, not allowing very many grade-A chances, and having 14 blocks and 24 hits. Clearly, the Blues were the better offensive team too.
St. Louis finished with 32 shots on goal and dominated the faceoffs. All four of their goals, even if slightly fortunate on a couple, were earned and came through effort.
Who knows what team we get when they go to Calgary? They've shown they're capable of reverting to old mistakes even under a new coach.
This was about as good a start to a tough road trip as you could get though. Additionally, the Blues finally picked up a divisional win, which they had none beforehand. You have to win divisional games to have any chance to be in the playoffs.