In 3-2 win over the Rangers, Blues' stars lead the way

Matthew DeFranks, St. Louis Post-Dispatch on Dec 15, 2024

Published in Hockey

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ST. LOUIS — The best players were the best players.

It’s simple. It’s straightforward. When it's right, it's an easy formula for success.

During a 3-2 Blues win on Sunday night over the New York Rangers, the Blues’ best players performed as such. Pavel Buchnevich, Jordan Kyrou and Robert Thomas each scored goals as St. Louis won in regulation for the first time since Dec. 3 in Winnipeg.

Joel Hofer made 26 saves to earn his fourth win in a row.

The Rangers scored twice in 79 seconds during the third period (first Brett Berard, then Will Cuylle), cutting the Blues lead from three goals down to one. Cuylle's goal with 8:23 remaining in the third period forced Blues coach Jim Montgomery to call timeout to settle his team.

The Rangers fell to 3-10-0 in their past 13 games and were actually missing some of their best players on Sunday night. Igor Shesterkin did not start in goal. Artemi Panarin was out with an upper-body injury. Kaapo Kakko was a healthy scratch. Chris Kreider was on the fourth line.

The Blues’ star power helped the team bounce back from losing three of their past four games, and each of their big boys continued their strong play. Thomas extended his point streak to seven games. Kyrou has scored in each of the past four games. Buchnevich has a point in each of the past nine games he’s played, though he missed two games with a lower-body injury.

St. Louis was improved Sunday from their performance during a 2-1 overtime loss to the Dallas Stars on Saturday night.

“Our habits need to be more consistent,” Montgomery said before the game. “With the lack of practice time right now, you rely on video to teach. Players got to be able to grab that and then go out and execute the habits. Stopping and starting, as simple as that may seem, it’s not that simple when you’re playing a lot of games, three in four nights or whatever it is with travel. Sometimes, it escapes you.”

The Blues have one more home game on Tuesday against the Devils before heading back on the road for games against the Lightning, Panthers and Red Wings.

Disjointed first period

Sunday’s first period lacked flow, as whistles disrupted any momentum either side attempted to generate. There were 25 faceoffs in the 20-minute period and 15 combined shots on goal.

The Blues broke through first with Buchnevich’s goal with 1:09 left in the first, which came on a feed from Jake Neighbours into the slot after Thomas drew three Rangers to him. Thomas won a race to the puck in the slot, evading Vincent Trocheck and somehow finding Neighbours in front of the net with a backhand pass. As Chad Ruhwedel cut down Neighbours’ angle for a shot, he found Buchnevich.

It was Buchnevich’s fourth goal in seven games against the Rangers, who traded him to St. Louis in 2021. Buchnevich is in his fourth season with the Blues, and his six-year contract extension, signed this offseason, will begin next season.

The first period was a little different than the opening period the last time the Blues and Rangers played — in Montgomery’s first game as Blues coach on Nov. 25. That night, the two teams combined for 29 shots on goal in the opening 20 minutes as the Blues outshot them 15-14.

Continuing to produce

Kyrou’s goal was his 13th of the season as he begins to open up some separation for the most goals on team, now leading Dylan Holloway and Neighbours by three goals. Kyrou scored at 6:33 of the second period, turning defense into offense.

After Alexey Toropchenko chipped the puck to center, Kyrou hounded Rangers defenseman Ryan Lindgren into a turnover, sending Kyrou in all alone on Rangers goaltender Jonathan Quick. Kyrou picked his spot on the far side, giving the Blues a 2-0 lead.

The goal was an example of what Montgomery wanted to see more from Kyrou.

“He’s significantly improved in his play without the puck,” Montgomery said. “I’ve talked to him about it. The one thing I want him to get back to that I think is starting to come is being more aggressive with his feet, attacking defensemen’s feet, making them uncomfortable because of their speed and skill, and then hounding pucks in that offensive zone through back to our red line.”

The four-game goal streak is tied for the longest of Kyrou’s career, last achieved in December 2022.

Thomas made it 3-0 Blues at 10:28 of the second period, cashing in on the rush for his sixth goal of the season. When Alexis Lafreniere’s pass through the slot sailed out of the Blues zone, Thomas was there to collect it. Philip Broberg sprinted up the ice to create a two-on-one with Thomas, and Thomas took the shot himself to beat Quick.

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