Preview: The playoff race is coming down to the wire, and no matchup may be bigger than Thursday’s meeting between the St. Louis Blues and Vancouver Canucks as this is the last time these 2 will face each other. The Blues (34-28-7) and Canucks (32-25-11) are tied at 75 points, with Vancouver currently occupying the second Wild Card with a game in hand. Ryan Suter plays in his 1,514th career game, which ties him with Steve Yzerman for 21st all-time in NHL history.
Jordan Binnington will be the starter for the Blues and Kevin Lankinen for the Canucks.
No blood in the first period
Blues have the edge early…eight minutes into the game they have seven shots to just two for the Canucks.
Canucks gets the first powerplay of the night with 9:46 left in the period…Blues kill off all but 41 seconds until a penalty is called against the Canucks…4-on-4 for 41 seconds…and then Blues to the PP for 1:19. No official shots on goal for the Blues and Pavel Buchnevich failed to shoot on the door step and instead passes into traffic. Why??
Vancouver had no shots for over 15 minutes during the period…a trend the Blues have had for 14 games, not allowing more than 30 shots in a game…a physical first period with some big hits…overall, the SOG were 12 to 4 Blues and hits were 17 to 11 Blues.
Blues get the lead in period 2
Vancouver shows a bit of life as the 2nd period starts…seven shots to three through 10 minutes of the 2nd .
Zack Bolduc a spinning no look shot from the point deflects off a Canuck defenseman’s stick and gets past the goalie at 4:13…1-0 Blues…Nick Leddy (the birthday boy) and Cam Fowler. Bolduc’s 13th of the season.
Blues continue to hold a big edge in shots 21 to 12…Hits 34 to 21 and lead 1-0.
The record is 28-2-1 for the Blues when they lead after 2. Canucks have just one win when behind after 2 periods.
Late goal ties it up in the 3rd
At 1:11 into the 3rd …we are tied at 1…a shot beats Binnington through traffic, over the glove side shoulder…their 13th shot.
Another shot from the right circle beats Binnington with traffic and catches the post on the stick side and in. Canucks up 2-1 with 13:35 left in the period.
Binnington with little chance on either goal.
Off a faceoff…Tyler Tucker a wrist shot that deflects off a Canuck stick and goes glove side to tie the game at 2. Tuckers 3rd of the year with the faceoff win and assist to Brayden Schenn.
And just 24 seconds later…Tucker takes a shot and passes to Jordan Kyrou explodes down the ice and passes to Dylan Holloway, who redirects the pass behind the stunned goalie. And that quickly, the Blues go back up 3-2. 10:08 left in the period. Holloway’s 23rd goal. Blues with 25 shots.
5 Minutes!! Blues up by 1…LET’S GO BLUES!! Canucks pull the goalie pulled with 1:58 left…6 on 5…1:14 left faceoff in Canucks end, goalie back in…40 seconds and the goalie back out…18 seconds left and the face-off in the Blues end. Robert Thomas wins the face-off…but loses the puck and Brock Boeser is alone and blasts a slapshot over the glove of Binnington with 3 seconds left and we are going to overtime…3 seconds left…WOW!!
Blues lead the shots 26 to 18.
One point…for each team…76 points for each team on the season ...who gets the extra point??
Overtime!! Kyrou speeds around the defense and with a wraparound…is it in or a save…it goes to the situation room for review…so close…no goal! 2:12 left.
With 1:18 left…Philip Broberg 2-on-1 with Schenn and the Captain with a pass to Broberg and he goes forehand backhand and flips it over the prone goalie!!! Blues get the 2nd point. Broberg’s 7th of the year.
Blues win 4-3 and are 10-2-2 since the 4 Nations.