Preview: After a 2-week break, the St Louis Blues (25-26-5) get back on the ice against the Winnipeg Jets (39-14-3), who hold down the top spot in the NHL. With Jordan Binnington just returning from his gold medal performance at the 4 Nations Face-Off, Joel Hofer gets the start in net for the Blues giving Binnington an extra day of rest. Eric Comrie subbing in for Hellebuyck, who gets a respite as well. Tyler Tucker is in the lineup with Nick Leddy sitting this one out. The Blues are playing the 4th game of a 6-game home stand. Ryan Suter playing game 1501.
Odd man breaks lead to a goal for each team in period 1…
At 4:58, a 2-on-1 break and a pass across the crease is quickly one-timed in to beat Hofer on the Jets' second shot. 1 to 0 early … Robert Thomas gets his 100th NHL goal with 4:26 left in the period as he skated in 2 on 1 with Jake Neighbours, taking a pass from Pavel Buchnevich, and we are tied 1 to 1. A wrister from the face-off circle that goes off the past and in. The Blues' fifth shot of the period.
With 1:24 left, Radek Faksa took an interference penalty against the best powerplay team in the NHL, scoring 31% of the time. 36 seconds left to kill in the 2nd period. The first period ended tied at 1 with the Jets doubling up the Blues in shots 10 to 5.
Jets take the lead in period 2:
The Blues kill off the balance of the PP…the Jets with 3 shots. The Jets took a slashing penalty at 5:02 of the period. The Blues have 1 shot on the PP. Each team is 0 for 1 on the PP. With 8:59 left, a centering pass from the boards bounces off Suter’s skate to a Jets player, and it tapped past Hofer…2 to 1 Jets on their 17th shot.
Faksa trips a Jet with 7:39 left…back to the penalty kill. Alexey Toropchenko breaks in shorthanded and is hooked…could have been a penalty shot…and we are skating 4 on 4. Blues get PP for 45 seconds. Blues get 1 shot on the PP.
The Blues had pressure in the last 1:30 of the period…but couldn’t get a goal…shots were 18 for the Jets and 14 for the Blues… the score remains 2 to 1
Blues take the lead…only to have it tied up late in period 3:
We start 4 on 4 with matching minor penalties to end the 2nd period and Robert Thomas, just 16 seconds into the period, does a wrap around and tucks the puck in on the backhand. Cam Fowler and Buchnevich with the assists. We are tied at 2. Hat Trick watch begins… Thomas hasn’t had a hattie in his career…is tonight the night?
As the 10-minute mark approached, the Jets have the pressure on and Hofer makes several brilliant saves to keep it tied at 2.
With 4:28 left, Jake Neighbours on a partial breakaway, drew two penalties on the play for a 4-minute powerplay. With 2:50 left… Buchnevich rips a shot to the blocker side from the slot…a 13-game scoreless streak is snapped…his 12th of the year. Assisted by Thomas, the Blues led 3 to 2. Meanwhile, they have another 2 minutes with the man advantage. No score and they are up to 20 shots
The Jets pulled the goalie with 40 seconds left, and they tied it up with 28 seconds left. 3 to 3 on a deflection that Hofer had no chance on the play…their 26th shot.
The Blues get 1 point and We are going to Overtime!
OT! The Blues were in a big advantage for the first minute with 3 shots…odd man breaks at both ends…both goalies making saves in end-to-end action… the Jets with 3 shots and the Blues with 4 shots…and we go to the shootout!
This is the Jets' first shootout of the season…the Blues are 3 and 0.
SHOOTOUT!! Blues shooting first:
Round 1 - Thomas…no goal! Jets…no goal.
Round 2 – Buchnevich…no goal! Jets…score…lead 1 to 0.
Round 3 – Schenn…no goal! Jets win in the shootout…4 to 3.
Note: Blues defensemen have 29 goals on the season…5th best in the league.