Preview: The St. Louis Blues (24-26-5) are set to take on their archrival the Chicago Blackhawks. This game will be the 333rd all-time meeting between 2 of the fiercest rivals in the NHL, dating back to Nov. 12, 1967. The Blues hold the edge all-time with a 142-138-35-17 record over the Blackhawks. The Blackhawks (17-31-6) snapped a 3-game losing streak on Friday night with a dominant 6-2 performance over the Nashville Predators. They hold 8th place in the Central Division. The only lineup change is in goal where Jordan Binnington will get the start…Chicago counters with Arvid Soderbloom…who??
Defenseman Ryan Suter joins a select group as he plays in his 1,500th game and becomes the 22nd player in NHL history and the 3rd American-born player to reach the mark. He is playing in his 508th consecutive game. As an American, Suter only trails Chris Chelios (1,651) and Matt Cullen (1,516). Patrick Marleau is #1 with 1779 games played. Fun fact: Zach Bolduc was 2 years old when Suter played his first game.
Chicago scores 2 within 38 seconds in the first
The Blues have not scored more than two goals in seven straight games…
First 5 minutes…not much was happening. Three total shots on goal…the Blues with one of them…and at 5:04, with their third shot, a two-on-one, Binnington gets his glove on it, but it pops into the net. Tough play for Binnington having to go post to post. 1-0 Blackhawks.
A turnover in the defensive end by the Blues, and it’s quickly 2-0. 38 seconds after the first goal. Again, not much chance for Binnington as he is screened, and the puck goes over his left shoulder under the bar.
The period ends with the Blackhawks up 2-0 and the Blues leading in shots 9 to 8. Blues have three odd-man breaks in the period.
Blues with three unanswered goals in the 2nd period…
The Blues turn to score fast…10 seconds apart. The first at 1:40 on a long floating shot from the point by Philip Broberg…assists to Mathieu Joseph and Dylan Holloway. And then, at 1:50, Nathan Walker (the birthday boy), a blast from the slot, ties the game at 2…unassisted. Alexey Toropchenko with a great forecheck to spring the puck to Walker. Broberg’s 4th of the year and Walker’s 6th.
Blues to the powerplay with 12:09 left in the period…Jordan Kyrou tripped. The Blackhawks kill this one-off but take another penalty with eight minutes left in the period. The Blues are getting their chances but can’t get it past Soderbloom. Two shots and a crossbar on the second PP. Blues are up to 21 shots for the game…Chicago with 11.
Blackhawks are giving the puck away as well and with 2:51 left, good for a check by Holloway and Brayden Schenn, who passes one from behind the net to the slot and finds Mathieu Joseph, who fires it past the goalie for his first goal in 31 games. 3-2 Blues. Blues led in shots 27 to 11 for the game…17 to 3 in the 2nd period…11 D-zone turnovers by the Blackhawks in the 2nd period.
Thank you very much.
Third Period sees 5 goals combined scored…
The Blackhawks putting pressure on and scoring at 3:50 on a shot over Binnington’s glove…shooting high…and we are tied at 3.
The Blues go back on top less than a minute later…Cam Fowler with a shot from the point that deflects off a Chicago defenseman and past the goalie…Fowler’s 6th of the season and 3rd against the Blackhawks…Robert Thomas and Pavel Buchnevich with the assists.
4-3 Blues…with 29 goals from their defense this season. That ranks 8th in the NHL.
The Hawks come right back and make it 4-4 with 13:52 left…the puck deflects off Suters stick and through the wickets of Binnington...their 16th shot.
With 8:52 left a quick move around Justin Faulk and the Blackhawks scored on a breakaway, sneaking it under Binnington for the 5-4 lead. Five goals allowed on 17 shots is unacceptable for Binnington.
An unsportsmanlike penalty was called against the bench of the Blues with 7:45 left…arguing that a slashing penalty wasn’t called when Holloway’s stick was broken right before the Blackhawk’s 5th goal. Chicago’s PP is ranked 8th. No shots for the Hawks as the Blues have a solid kill.
5 MINUTES!! Robert Thomas finds a loose puck after Broberg fires a slap shot from the blueline…the puck is loose behind the goalie and Thomas slams it into the back of the net for his 13th. Buchnevich gets the 2nd assist. 4:37 left in the period.
Shots in regulation, 35 to 19 in favor of the Blues.
OVERTIME!! Next goal wins…
Each team with grade-A chances…Binnington made a sprawling save with the toe cap with 2 seconds left…and now a shoot-out!
The Blues had five shots in OT and Chicago had only one shot…finishing 40 to 20.
SHOOTOUT!
Round 1
Blues…Neighbours – no goal
Blackhawks…Bedard – no goal
Round 2
Blues…Schenn – backhander SCORES!
Blackhawks…Teravinen - scores
Tied at 1
Round 3
Blues…Holloway – no goal
Blackhawks…Donato – no goal, Binnington poke check
We go extra time…
Round 4
Blues…Kyrou -no goal
Blackhawks…Smith – glove save
Round 5
Blues…Thomas – no goal
Blackhawks…Reichel – no goal
Round 6
Blues…Buchnevich – no goal
Blackhawks…Nazar – no goal
Round 7
Blues…Bolduc – no goal
Blackhawks…Mikheyev – no goal
Round 8
Blues…Walker – no goal
Blackhawks…Maroon – no goal
Round 9
Blues…Joseph – no goal
Blackhawks…Foligno – no goal
Round 10
Blues…Faksa – scores on the backhand deke…foxy move!
Blackhawks…Bertuzzi – Binnington save!! Winner Winner Chicken Dinner!!