Preview: The St. Louis Blues (31-28-7) are in Minnesota (37-24-5) for a matchup with the Wild. The Wild are 4th in the Central Division. The only change to the lineup will be Joel Hofer getting the start in net at Xcel Energy Center, with Jordan Binnington anticipated to get Sunday’s game against the Anaheim Ducks in St. Louis. Filip Gustavsson is starting for the Wild. The Blues are 0-3 against the Wild this season…and 2 points out of a wild-card spot.
Blues get on the board first...
The Blues strike first 4:17 into the period as they dominate the offensive end…Brayden Schenn scores his 15th of the year getting a rebound and backhanding it past the goalie from right in front of the net. Cam Fowler and Alexey Toropchenko…their 2nd shot on goal.
With 9:01 left, Minnesota is whistled for too many men on the ice and the Blues go to the powerplay. 2 shots on the PP.
Good news…Blues do not give up a goal on the first or second shot of the game…5 minutes left…shots tied at 5.
Blues finished the period strong and after 20 minutes led it…1-0 and shots were 8 to 5 in favor of the Blues.
Blues expand the lead in the 2nd…
The Wild have the edge in play for the first 10 minutes of the 2nd period…as the Blues don’t get their first shot until 8+ minutes. Overall shots are tied at 9 midway through the game.
Jake Neighbours with his 17th makes it 2 to 0 after Robert Thomas wins the faceoff and Pavel Buchnevich drops a pass to Jake who fires it over the pad stick side. 9:09 left in the period.
Blues make it 3 to 0 when Jordan Kyrou jumps on a rebound of a Schenn shot to backhand the puck over the goalie. Fowler with the 2nd assist. Kyrou’s 25th goal.
The Wild score on an odd play…Kyrou turns the puck over while Hofer makes his way from behind the net, and a shot from long range evades Hofer. 3 to 1…with 7:13 left.
Nathan Walker draws a holding penalty…and the Wild should have gotten an extra 2 for roughing…Blues to the PP with 4:23 left…no goals…but did not have a goalpost…
Blues get called for a penalty with 1:06 left…Thomas for hooking…54 seconds will carry over to the 3rd period. Blues lead in shots 15 to 13.
Blues pile on in the 3rd...
Blues with the 2-goal lead heading into the 3rd but need to kill off the balance of the penalty…1:06. No shots for the Wild on the PP.
10 minutes left in the 3rd period ..Blues up by 2 and continue to lead in shots…23 to 17.
Kyrou with 8:30 left turns on the afterburners, beats the defense and wraps around the back of the net, and tucks it in…4 to 1 lead…Dylan Holloway and Justin Faulk with the assists. Kyrou’s 26th goal and 3rd multi goal game of the season. Hatty Watch!
Wild pulls the goalie with 3:06 left in the period…and with 2:20 left Kyrou on his third attempt at the empty net puts it home for the hat trick, his 5th of his career and 27th goal of the season. Blues lead 5 to 1…Buchnevich and Thomas with the assists.
Shots on goal ended 27 to 19 for the Blues…5 to 1 on the scoreboard. End the road trip 3 -2-1…Hofer with 18 saves.