Preview: The St. Louis Blues (25-26-6) and the Colorado Avalanche (33-23-2) are both on the end of back-to-back games in this Central Division matchup. The 4 Nations Face-Off winning goaltender Jordan Binnington will get the start. Nick Leddy is back in for Tyler Tucker. Mackenzie Blackwood in net for the Avs.
Avalanche takes the period 1 lead…
Nathan Walker starts the party with a fight in the first couple of minutes on his first shift…ding ding…decision to Walker.
It was a pretty even game until 7:39 into the period when a shot from the point is deflected in the slot and bounces between Binnington’s legs ..not much chance on the shot…their 3rd shot of the game (Blues have 4 shots), 1-0 Colorado.
With just over 10 minutes left it’s Walker again stirring things up as he throws a check and knocks the Avs player to the ice…Avs take offense to the clean check and go after Nathan against the boards…no penalties are called on this skirmish.
With 7:11 left Walker…who else ..takes a cross-check to the chest as he clears a player from the side of the net and then roughs up the Avs player…we’ll play 4 on 4.
Blues were buzzing and playing well on the last few shifts of the 1st period with several good scoring chances…however the period came to an end with the Avs holding the 1-goal lead…shots on goal tied at 8 each.
Blues score 3 goals in the 2nd period…
The Avalanche gets the first powerplay of the game as Pavel Buchnevich is called for tripping… a pretty weak call on a strong skater like Cale Makar…12:08 left in the period. Blues kill it off allowing no shots. Great kill!
At the halfway point shots are even at 11 and the Avs have the only goal.
Brayden Schenn gets a rebound and fires it past Blackwood as he couldn’t handle the high shot by Jordan Kyrou. Schenn’s 12th goal of the season. Justin Faulk with the 2nd assist and we are tied at 1 with 9:15 left in the period. Schenn’s first goal in 9 games.
Colton Parayko makes it 2-1 with 5:47 left in the period after he drives to the net and pops the rebound of a Buchnevich shot into the back of the net…Parayko’s 13th of the year. Thomas with the 2nd assist his 6th straight game with an assist.
With 10 seconds left…Dylan Holloway drives the middle lane and tucks in his 17th goal of the season off a pass from Faulk and Jordan Kyrou.
The period with the Blues up 3-1…and leading in shots 17 to 16.
Blues hold serve in the third period...
Blues controlling play through the first half of the period…shots are now 24 to 20 in favor of STL at the 10-minute mark. Blackwood is keeping the game close for the Avs.
5 minutes left!! The Avalanche have made a push and shots are even at 25…Binnington coming up huge with several point-blank saves.
When will the Avalanche pull the goalie? It happens with 2:33 left…tonight the Blues withstand the pressure as the Avs fire shot after shot…Binnington is the difference making four memorably big saves. Shots on goal 29 for the Avalanche and 25 for the Blues…a great team effort and a 3-1 win.