St. Louis Blues Pros/Cons 2024-25 Game 48

Jan 20, 2025; Las Vegas, Nevada, USA; Vegas Golden Knights left wing Pavel Dorofeyev (16) looks to shoot against St. Louis Blues goaltender Jordan Binnington (50) during a shoot out at T-Mobile Arena. Mandatory Credit: Stephen R. Sylvanie-Imagn Images
Jan 20, 2025; Las Vegas, Nevada, USA; Vegas Golden Knights left wing Pavel Dorofeyev (16) looks to shoot against St. Louis Blues goaltender Jordan Binnington (50) during a shoot out at T-Mobile Arena. Mandatory Credit: Stephen R. Sylvanie-Imagn Images | Stephen R. Sylvanie-Imagn Images
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Pro: Strong start

While you never want to need a strong start just to have a poor finish, the bottom line is that the Blues get their best results when they come out well in the first. Although they scored first in Utah and fell apart, the reality is that this team under Jim Montgomery plays their best when they have a good opening period and get some goals.

The Schenn goal is important to grab the game by the scruff. The Walker goal is huge to go into the locker room with a lead.

The Blues needed to end the first ahead and that set them up well enough for later.

Pro: Late period goals

One of the things that has buried the Blues this season is giving up goals late in any period. In Vegas, they turned the tables.

The Blues scored with just 17 seconds left in the first period. That's a deep cut to any opponent.

They stuck the dagger in with Fowler's power-play goal with just 31 seconds left in the second period. That goal proved necessary the way the third went, but it's key to just demoralizing a team anyway. More times than not, you're going to take away an opponent's spirit by scoring that late and letting them stew on that feeling.

Schedule