Jake Neighbours emerged as the shootout star, while Jordan Binnington defied all three attempts by the San Jose Sharks, leading the St. Louis Blues to a 3-2 triumph on Thursday night. This win ended a four-game home losing streak for the Blues. Binnington displayed resilience by bouncing back from Alexander Wennberg’s equalizing goal with only 8.8 seconds remaining, securing his 151st career victory. This tied him with Mike Liut’s franchise record.

Standout Performances

Wennberg was the lone double-goalscorer for the Sharks, with Mikael Granlund and Macklin Celebrini, the 2024 NHL draft’s top pick, providing assists for both goals. For the Blues, Jordan Kyrou and Nathan Walker found the back of the net during regulation time. This marked only the second victory in their last nine matches.

Walker’s goal came just 11 seconds into the game, thanks to Radek Faksa’s interception of a pass from Sharks’ goalie Yaroslav Askarov. Later, Kyrou, positioned between Granlund and Timothy Liljegren, nudged home a pass from Pierre-Olivier Joseph for his sixth goal of the season, with 8:13 remaining in the second.

Goalkeeper Highlights

Binnington held the fort with 22 saves, contributing significantly to the Blues’ victory, while Askarov managed 29 saves.

Key Takeaways

The Sharks, who have been outscored 28-10 in the season’s first period, struggled from the onset, despite netting a first-period goal for the third consecutive game. On the other hand, Binnington, with 295 games under his belt, stands second among goalies in Blues’ franchise history. He reached the 151-win milestone in 56 fewer games than Liut, whose record from 1979-1985 stood at 151-133, with 52 ties.

Game-Changing Moment

Neighbours played the hero, delivering the shootout victory with a wrist shot that outsmarted Askarov on his glove side.

Key Statistics

The Blues have been outscored 14-2 in the third period across their last seven games.

What’s Next?

The Blues are set to play seven out of their next eight games on the road, commencing Saturday against the New York Islanders. The Sharks, on the other hand, will start a four-game homestand against Buffalo the same day.

William Caldwell is a veteran journalist whose career has spanned the highs and lows of the sports world. With a focus on baseball and hockey, William’s articles are known for their depth and historical perspective, making him a favorite among fans who appreciate the rich traditions of sports. Outside the press box, William is an amateur historian with a particular interest in sports memorabilia.