The St. Louis Blues took down the Carolina Hurricanes 4-3 Saturday evening. Regardless of a irritating first interval, the Blues fought again with a dominant second interval earlier than holding on within the third to earn the victory. Whereas there’s a lot to work on, there have been many positives from the sport.
First Interval
Carolina dominated the primary interval, with Andrei Svechnikov scoring the one purpose simply 1:21 into the sport. After Colton Parayko misplaced management of the puck, Sebastian Aho arrange Seth Jarvis, who delivered a cross-crease go for Svechnikov to simply convert. The Hurricanes outshot the Blues 19 to 4 within the interval, with each Svechnikov and rookie Jackson Blake registering 4 photographs, whereas Jarvis added three. Jack Roslovic and Jordan Martinook additionally had strong performances however couldn’t discover the again of the online.
After a shutout in opposition to the New York Islanders on Oct. 17, Hofer constructed on his robust play, stopping the ultimate 18 photographs he confronted within the first interval to maintain the Blues only one purpose behind. He confronted an anticipated targets complete of 1.27, in keeping with MoneyPuck, and did a powerful job limiting rebounds.
Second Interval
Though the Blues struggled within the first interval, they shortly rebounded. Halfway by way of the second interval, Mathieu Joseph obtained a go from captain Brayden Schenn proper in entrance of the online, spun round, and shot the puck previous Pyotr Kochetkov, tying the sport at 1-1. Mathieu’s brother, Pierre-Olivier Joseph, additionally assisted on the purpose.
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Only a minute later, Zack Bolduc received a puck battle, permitting Jake Neighbours to seize the puck and hearth it by way of site visitors, scoring to provide St. Louis a 2-1 lead. Lower than two minutes later, Dylan Holloway obtained a go from Philip Broberg and, with some spectacular strikes, slipped the puck previous Kochetkov, extending the Blues’ result in 3-1. This purpose marked Holloway’s first as a Blue, whereas Broberg prolonged his level streak to 6 video games to begin the season in his debut with St. Louis. Regardless of being outshot 27-15 within the interval, the Blues headed into the ultimate body with a 3-1 benefit.
Third Interval
Simply over a minute into the third interval, Shayne Gostisbehere scored his first purpose of the evening and third of the season on the facility play, with assists from Aho and Svechnikov. Lower than 90 seconds after that, Roslovic continued his robust evening by scoring his first purpose of the sport with a slapshot off a cross-ice go from Jack Drury, tying the rating at 3-3.
The tie lasted simply over a minute earlier than Kasperi Kapanen picked up a unfastened puck, raced into the offensive zone, and went backhand to forehand, beating Kochetkov on the glove facet to place the Blues again within the lead. Regardless of dealing with strain late within the interval, St. Louis managed to keep up their one-goal benefit, securing their second consecutive victory at residence.
Sport Standouts
Hofer was an apparent standout for the Blues. He stopped 37 of 40 photographs and saved the Blues within the recreation regardless of a disappointing first interval. Whereas Jordan Binnington has impressed, Hofer could quickly be pushing for the starter’s internet, a debate the workforce is blissful to have.
Neighbours had one other robust evening, tallying a purpose and an help. The younger winger appeared sharp on his edges and did an ideal job at facilitating play in transition regardless of having simply 13:45 of ice time, a quantity sure to extend.
Regardless of the loss, Svechnikov stood out, registering a purpose and an help. He had 19:38 of ice time, the third most amongst Carolina’s forwards, and can look to construct on his robust efficiency.
The Blues and Hurricanes will every have two days off earlier than suiting up once more on Tuesday, Oct. 22. The Blues will host the undefeated Winnipeg Jets at Enterprise Middle, whereas the Hurricanes will head to Rogers Place to face the Edmonton Oilers.