The preview...
Coming off a 7 to 4 win…the St. Louis Blues (17-16-4) had their most thrilling win at home on Friday. Now they are trying for their third win in a row to finish 2024…3rd time this season they try for three wins in a row. Three different defensemen scored for the first time since 2018. They face a Buffalo Sabres team (13-19-4) that has struggled this year and features former Blues 1st round draft choice Tage Thompson. Jordan Binnington is in the net for the Blues, and Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen for the Sabres.
Sabres jump ahead…
Alexandre Texier returns to the lineup and the top line and has the first shot on goal for the Blues. Five minutes in, and the Blues have three shots and Buffalo zero…with three good scoring chances for the Blues.
Off a face-off in the Blues end and a set play by the Sabres get a mere tap in goal on their first shot of the game. 1 -0 at 6:52. Not much chance for Binnington with no net front presence by the Blues defensemen. Fifth time this season Buffalo has scored on their first shot.
Ten minutes in and the Blues continue to lead in shots…7 to 1…but no goals.
Brayden Schenn draws a holding penalty with 9:52 left. Powerplay moving the puck well and mustering two shots. And as the PP ends the Blues take a penalty…7:39 left in the period. At 6:54 Tage Thompson from the slot rips a wrist shot through the arm hole…2-0.
Blues take another penalty with 5:44 left in the period. Oskar Sundqvist takes a stick to the face with 4:18 left, and we go 4-on-4 for 34 seconds. Five seconds in, Schenn scores on a rebound of Colton Parayko’s shot that leaks through the goalie and we are 2-1, while 4-on-4, Jake Neighbours with the 2nd assist. Blues get a PP for 1:26 and have two shots.
The Blues outplay the Sabres with 16 shots to six…scoring chances eight to three. Unfortunately, Buffalo had the 2-1 lead.
Blues pile up the shots…powerplay fizzles
Five minutes into the period the Blues continue to dominate the shots on goal…2-0 with several scoring chances for the Blues.
Blues to the powerplay at 14:08…moving the puck well again…only managed one shot on the PP.
Back to the powerplay for the Blues with 8:54 left in the period. 0-3 with four shots so far. Make it 0 for 4 with six total shots.
Shots on goal after two periods…Blues 26 to 12 for the Sabres. Blues with 44 attempts. Buffalo still leads 2-1.
Sabres pile on in the 3rd…
With 14:04 to go the 4th line gets the game tied…Alexey Toropchenko drives the net…Parayko gets the rebound, and shoots and Nathan Walker gets his 4th of the year by stuffing it in…tie game 2 to 2 on the Blues 28th shot…double the Sabres.
Buffalo to the powerplay with 10:44 left in the 3rd. At 9:30 a one-timer from the slot beats Binnington high to the glove side…on their 15th shot…3 to 2 Buffalo. 2 for 3 on the powerplay…the difference in the game so far with the Blues 0 for 4.
5 minutes!!
A break for Buffalo and a tough angle shot beat Binnington five hole and it is 4-2…their 16th shot with 3:41 left to go...a backbreaker for sure...
Blues pull Binnington with 3:30 left…disallowed goal with 2:42 left…an early whistle – no goal. Blues continue to pressure in the Sabre end…Luukkonen the difference in the game stopping 35 of 37 shots (.946 save %). Sabres with 16 shots…final 4 to 2. Back to .500 on the season for the Blues.