Preview: The St Louis Blues (20-19-4) look to avenge their recent loss in Columbus to the Blue Jackets 6 to 4. The Blues currently sit just two points out of a wild card spot and are 5-4-1 in their last 10 games. The Blues are looking to win their 3rd straight at home for the first time this season. Meanwhile, the Jackets (19-17-6) are 7-2-1 in their last 10, have won three straight, and sit in the second wild card spot. Both teams have 44 points. No changes to the forward and defensive lineups with a red-hot offense… Jordan Binnington will be the starter in net for the Blues. Jet Greaves in his 5th NHL game between the pipes for the Jackets.
Blue Jackets on the scoreboard first…
The Blue Jackets started quickly with 5 shots in the first 4 minutes, putting Binnington on his toes… The Blues' first shot didn’t happen until 4:01 into the first. Columbus makes it 1-0 with 4:22 left in the period on their 9th shot . A bit of a broken play as the puck bounces to the open side, and it’s a tap in.
The period ends with the Jackets outshooting the Blues 11 to 9 and holding a one-goal lead.
Jackets extend the lead…eerily familiar score to last Saturday’s game…
End to end action for the first 10 minutes of the period… passed the puck despite good o-zone time and pressure…2 SOG for the Blues and the Jackets passed 8 for the period halfway through.
The first penalty of the game goes against the Blues with 5:03 left in the period…and with 6 seconds left on the power play, a pass from below the goal line finds a Jacket player alone in front, and it sneaks through the arm of Binnington…their 24th shot of the game.
The Blues then go to the power play with 2:49 left…and with 9 seconds left on the PP, Oskar Sundqvist takes a penalty… The Blues had 4 shots with the man advantage. The Jackets will have just over 1 minute of a powerplay carrying over to the 3rd period.
The Jackets had a big advantage in shots, 27 to 17 and 2 to 0 at the end of 2 periods...the same score as last Saturday's game...
Blues can’t capitalize in the 3rd…
The Blues started on the penalty kill and have a great shorthanded opportunity by Pavel Buchnevich…but couldn’t beat the goalie high to the glove side. Blue with 2 shots and the Jackets with zero on their carry-over powerplay. Jordan Kyrou draws a penalty with 12:10 left…however, the Blues can’t generate any shots on the powerplay.
Blues putting the pressure on and have the shot advantage 11 to 2 in the period with 7 minutes left… Greaves making some great saves to keep the Blues scoreless.
With five minutes left, the Blues were downby two and with 4 minutes left, Binnington to the bench…and with 1:37 left, Kyrou draws a tripping penalty…6 on 4 powerplay opportunity!
Finally...with 11 seconds left, Colton Parayko gets a rebound off a Zach Bolduc shot and gets his 8th goal of the year, Justin Faulk with the second assist, to bring the Blues within 1 on their 31st shot. One final push and the Jackets hold off the Blues for a 2-to-1 win!
The Blues ended the game with 32 shots and Columbus with 30. Jet Greaves was the difference in this game…his second career win against the Blues.