The St. Louis Blues continue to be a perplexing team in 2024-25. Like Forrest Gump's box of chocolates, you just never know what you'll get.
Less than 24 hours after an uninspiring loss to the Dallas Stars, where the Blues only got a point due to Jordan Binnington, they turned things around against the New York Rangers. It could be argued that they gave a full 60 minutes of effort, but they got the result.
It was a see-saw start for the Blues. They came out the gate with a decent start, getting the higher number of chances, outshooting the Rangers 5-2 to open.
Then things swung the other way with New York turning the shots 8-5, before the Blues had another answer. Despite the lack of looks, the Blues would get on the board late.
Pavel Buchnevich continued to haunt his old team, scoring his fourth goal in seven career games against the Rangers. The top line cycled the puck and Jake Neighbours found Buchnevich on the back door where he just snuck it past the skate of Jonathan Quick.
Despite being outshot, the Blues were more confident and just overall better in the second period. They added to their lead too.
Jordan Kyrou got his team leading 13th of the season at 6:33 on a great individual effort. With Alexey Toropchenko chipping it out, Kyrou lifted the stick of the defender and got the puck. Then, he went skate to stick before beating Quick to the glove side with a shot off the post for a 2-0 lead.
Robert Thomas nearly made it 3-0 on their next shift. He also came in on a break and clanged one off the crossbar, but it wouldn't be his last chance.
At 10:28, Thomas made it 3-0. On what started as a two-on-one, Thomas kept eyeing the pass and when the defenders committed, he snapped the high shot past Quick.
Things got a little wonky in the third. Despite it being the only period the Blues outshot the Rangers, they got outscored.
New York got on the board about midway through the period. Brett Berard snuck one under Joel Hofer's blocker and it was 3-1.
Less than 90 seconds later, it was 3-2. With St. Louis not being able to dislodge the Rangers from any puck battles on the wall, the Blues got caught puck-watching. That allowed Will Cuylle to drift into the deep slot for a one-timer.
St. Louis couldn't get the puck out when New York pulled their goaltender. It felt like the game was heading for OT, but St. Louis finally got some bounces and the puck down the ice.
While they didn't add any insurance, they did hold on. The Blues got their 15th win with a 3-2 victory.
Con: Rangers first goal
I don't care which goalie you support, nor who was in the net. The reality is that the first goal for the Rangers was not good.
There were questions whether the trajectory was altered by Colton Parayko's stick. Maybe there was a small screen.
Frankly, I think Hofer just misplayed it. The Rangers had been trying to sneak one high blocker all game long and he cheated, assuming the puck would go high again.
Whether it was intentional by Berard or not, the shot came midlevel. If the blocker is in a more "natural" position, the save is made. Hofer went high and exposed that part of the net.
These things happen, but it shook the goalie and the team. It took them a few minutes to recover, but they did. Maybe the Rangers score anyway, but it's always a shame to give up the shutout on a shot that didn't need to go in.
Pro: Buchnevich
It's a shame the Blues don't play in the Eastern Conference. Buchnevich does much better against that side, especially his former team.
The only team in the league where Buchnevich is better is against the Minnesota Wild, where he's a point-per-game scorer.
With his goal against the Rangers in this one, he's got four career goals and six career points in seven games against the team that traded him away. Maybe he's pulling a Michael Jordan and taking it personally.
Whatever the case, Buch finds himself against the Rangers. Now we just need him not to go cold.
Pro: Thomas
A goal and an assist, as well as what turned out to be the game-winner. That's a pretty good night.
Thomas could have, perhaps should have, had two goals. That one off the bar felt like a huge miss for the team.
Instead, Thomas let it fuel him and teach him. The very next time he had a crack at Quick, he went up high again and got his reward.
Maybe the assist isn't anything special. It was a secondary assist, but still keeps him in the lead there with 17 helpers.
Regardless whether we believe Thomas is a top center in this league or not, he continues to show that the Blues need him. The difference with and without him has been monumental.
Overview:
This was an odd game, especially in person. There wasn't a ton of juice in the crowd or on the ice, but it certainly was not a dull performance.
It just felt like when the Blues were at their best, they weren't getting a lot of offense. They had lulls, but it never got to a point where you felt the Rangers were coming.
Although St. Louis did get outshot, the team defense deserves credit. According to advanced stats, the Rangers only had two dangerous scoring opportunities the entire game, which was the lowest the Blues allowed all season.
Most of New York's shots came from outside or were seen cleanly by Hofer. The Blues goaltender made some decent saves, but nothing like the robbery jobs Binnington had to make the night before to steal a point.
The offense continues to be iffy in terms of getting a lot of looks, but if you're taking advantage of the chances you do get, it's acceptable. By the time it was 3-0, St. Louis only had about 12 shots and finished the first two periods with 14.
I'd much rather see them pepper the net like they can - we've seen them get 40-plus shots since Jim Montgomery took over. Nevertheless, I'd rather see a W, than 50 shots and a loss.
The third period was a little concerning, but I think that first goal just shocked everyone. If that doesn't go in, the ending might be completely different, but it threw a wrench in what had been a pretty carefully laid plan until then.
Ultimately, it's about how many not how they come in terms of wins. As long as you get two points against the East, you're doing your job and getting those points in your back pocket.