The St. Louis Blues (15-15-3) start their three-game road trip in Tampa Bay against the Lightning (17-10-2). Line-up changes for the Blues include Alexandre Texier's return to the lineup on the fourth line, replacing Oskar Sundqvist. Dylan Holloway moves back to center on a third line with Brandon Saad and Zack Bolduc. Tyler Tucker's recall from Springfield coincides with Philip Broberg's illness and he will pair with Scott Perunovich. Jordan Binnington is in the net and Andrei Vasilevskiy is at the other end for the Lightning.
Lightning strike to the early lead…
Lightning takes the early lead 5:14 into the first period. Several slick passes leave the Lightning player all alone in front of Binnington and it's 1 to 0. Their first shot on goal. Period 1 ends 1 to 0.
Lightning extends the lead in the 2nd…chase Binnington…
Just under four minutes in and Tampa Bay goes up 2 to 0.
Pavel Buchnevich lights the lamp at 12:15 assisted by Robert Thomas and Cam Fowler. Blues within 1 until one minute and 15 seconds later…Lightning strike and lead 3 to 1…3 goals on 11 shots and Binnington to the bench and Joel Hofer is in. The last goal evaded Binnington high to the glove side.
Captain Schenn drops the gloves to motivate the Blue with just under 2 minutes left…not much of a fight but hopefully lights a fire under the Blues.
Blues have killed off two penalties against the high-powered PP of the Lightning. Lightning scored on 28% of their opportunities. No shots are allowed.
Blues have controlled the play… shooting 22 to 15 and out-hitting 19 to 16…Tampa Bay has 11 turnovers including 7 in D-zone … a sloppy play that the Blues need to take advantage of…end of 2 periods 3 to 1 Tampa Bay.
Third period…
10 minutes in, the Blues continue to control the play…generating chances shots 6 to 2 in the Blues favor…
Blues back to the penalty kill…Hofer with a tripping penalty…1 shot allowed…3 for 3 on the penalty kill.
5 Minutes!!
Hofer pulled with just over 2 minutes left but the Blues are unable to get the puck behind Vasilevskiy…game ends 3 to 1...Blues outshoot the Lightning 32 to 18. Led in face-offs with 56% of the wins and 26 hits to 19. Hofer stops all 7 shots he faced.