Preview: The St. Louis Blues (27-26-6) are in the nation’s capital to face Alex Ovechkin and the Washington Capitals (38-12-8). "The Great 8" has scored his 883rd career goal as he chases Wayne Gretzky's all-time goals record (894). The Capitals are a high-powered offense, leading the league with 212 goals and boasting the highest goals-per-game average at 3.66. The Caps are in first place in their division with a 24-point lead.
Captain Brayden Schenn skates in his 1000th game in his career…the 403rd player to reach the milestone. And Brayden and his brother Luke are the first brothers to get the 1000-game milestone in the same season…8th brothers overall.
Joel Hofer starts for the Blues and ex-Blue Charlie Lindgren is in the net for Washington.
Blues take the lead in the first period…
At the 5-minute mark, the Blues have two shots, and the Caps have none…with no sustained pressure in the Blues end. Hofer aggressively moves the puck whenever it is in reach.
Pavel Buchnevich takes a penalty with 12:36 left in the period for holding. The Capitals are on fire of late on the powerplay. The Blues have 2 scoring chances shorthanded and kill the penalty allowing 1 shot.
With 8:46 left Philip Broberg fires a one-timer after a great pass from Mathieu Joseph across the front of the net to a wide-open Broberg for his 5th goal of the season. That was their 6th shot on goal. 1-0 Blues and another defenseman goal.
Washington tied it at 1 with 4:56 off a well-executed play and a pick on a Blues defenseman left the Caps player alone and he went for hand backhand to beat Hofer who had no chance on their 5th shot.
Broberg gets his 2nd of the night on a clear breakaway…not sure how he got in all alone…and Broberg escapes the poke check and backhands it in with 2:15 left. Jake Neighbours with a great pass to find Broberg alone…Buchnevich with the 2nd assist. Blues up 2 to 1. Broberg’s first career 2 goal game and he finds himself alone twice…his 6th of the year. The Blues now have 32 goals by the D-men which ranks 4th in the league. Hatty Watch is on!
Blues finish the period with eight shots and the Caps with five. Ovechkin is a -2 in the period with only 1 shot.
Blues score 2 goals late in period 2 to take a 2 goal lead into the 3rd period…
The Capitals dominated the first 5 minutes with 5 shots to none for the Blues and most of the 5 minutes spent in the Blues zone. The Blues finally get their first shot of the period at 7:32.
Blues go to the powerplay with 12:23 left in the period…Joseph drew a roughing penalty with his aggressive play. The Blues get two shots on the PP.
Jordan Kyrou takes a holding penalty with 5:31 left in the period. The Caps get 2 shots…the score remains 2-1 Blues until a few seconds later with 3:05 left a shot high to the glove side beats Hofer and we are once again tied.
Then the Blues come right back 29 seconds later to take a 3-2 lead…a shot by Ryan Suter is tipped by Dylan Holloway off the heel of his stick and he has his 18th goal. Schenn with the 2nd assist.
With 2:01 left Colton Parayko pounces on a puck that is loose in front of the net on a delayed penalty against the Caps and it’s 4-2. 15 shots on goal by the Blues. The goal came 35 seconds after the last goal. Parayko’s 14th goal and assists to Buchnevich and Robert Thomas with an assist to extend his scoring streak to 8 games and 35 goals from defensemen.
Blues finish the period leading in shots 15 to 13.
Blues tack one on in the 3rd and hold on to win…
The Blues trying for their 3rd win in a row…their 9th attempt…
We reach the halfway point of the period and each team only has one shot.
5 Minutes!! Shots are 18 to 16 Blues so far in a scoreless 3rd period. When will the Caps pull the goalie?? To the bench with 3 minutes left…6 attackers and an empty Caps net…with 1:55 left Jake Neighbours spins and shoots one from the neutral zone and makes it 5-2. Schenn and Radek Faksa with the assists.
The Blues hold the highest-scoring team in the NHL to just 2 goals and 18 shots. Blues with 19 shots and finally won three games in a row.