Preview: The St Louis Blues (41-28-7) will go for their franchise tying record 11th win in a row against the Pittsburgh Penguins (30-34-11). The last game the Blues lost was in Pittsburgh.
Jimmy Snuggerud will be back in the lineup for game 2 of his career and no other changes with Joel Hofer starting in net looking for his 5th straight win. Tristan Jarry is between the pipes for the Penguins.
Penguins get the lead early in the first
The Penguins strike first just over three minutes into the game on a play where the Penguin player got the puck off the side boards and skated in alone, went forehand-backhand, and beat Hofer. 1-0 Pittsburgh.
The Blues were outplayed for most of the period, with only 4 total shots, while the Penguins had 9, with some good scoring chances. The Blues had 1 powerplay opportunity.
Blues score 3 in period 2
Dylan Holloway injured in the first period and won’t return.
The Blues come out fast, and 38 seconds into the period, Jake Neighbours gets the Blues on the board. Philip Broberg brings the puck into the zone, drops it to Robert Thomas, who drops it to Neighbours, who fires his 20th of the season over Jarry. It's tied at 1.
Pittsburgh gets the lead back at 4:22 as they stuff one under Hofer after he had thought he covered the puck. 2-1 Pittsburgh.
Pavel Buchnevich steals a puck at center ice and skates in and around the Penguins player. He fakes a forehand and then backhands it over Jarry. It's his 26th of the season at 6:48. Nathan Walker has the second assist. Once again, we are tied. Three goals in the first seven minutes of the period.
At 8:05, the Blues take the lead…Cam Fowler flips a high shot from the Blues end, and Jordan Kyrou skates under it, is alone, and fires a wrist shot for his 33rd goal. It's 3-2 in favor of the Blues.
Halfway through the 2nd period shots are 13 to 11 Pittsburgh.
With 5 minutes left, the Blues are on a break, and Justin Faulk flies into the net as Jake Neighbours is hooked trying to get the puck to Faulk…Blues to the powerplay. At 3:38 Sundqvist gets high sticked and draws blood for a 4 minute penalty. Blues get a 5-on-3 for 38 seconds. But the period comes to an end...Blues lead 3 to 2…Penguins have the edge in shots 15 to 14.
Penguins tie it up late to send the game to OT
The Blues are 32-2-1 when leading after 2 periods. Blues start the period with 22 seconds left on the double minor but no goals, and they are 0 for 4 on the PP.
Jimmy Snuggerud gets his first NHL point with a great pass to the front of the net, and Jake Neighbours just had to tap it in…Jake’s 21st goal and 2nd of the game. Sundqvist gets the 2nd assist. 4 to 2 Blues on their 16th shot at 5:56. Hattie watch!!
Blues get called for a penalty with 9:15 left …Faulk with a hold. Penguins first PP of the game, and it doesn’t take them long to make it 4-3. 8:45 left…a shot from the slot off a pass from Sidney Crosby…their 23rd shot.
5 MINUTES!! Pittsburgh pulls the goalie with 2:15 left…Hofer with several good saves…but they stuff one in with 24 seconds left off the goalie going off the far post and in…we are tied and going to overtime for the second straight game.
OT!! With 3:32 left, Kyrou moves in and is slashed as he gets past the Penguins' defense, and the Blues get to a 4 3 powerplay. Robert Thomas fires a wrist shot high to the glove side, and the Blues win their 11th. 5 to 4. Kyrou with the assist …Thomas’s 20th of the season. Shots in the game were 28 to 19 in favor of the Penguins.
11 games in a row ties the franchise record and sets a new record for 10 wins at home.