SUNRISE, Fla. – The St. Louis Blues, led by Pavel Buchnevich’s offensive prowess and Joel Hofer’s stellar goaltending, secured a commanding 4-1 win against the Florida Panthers at Amerant Bank Arena on Thursday. Buchnevich’s two goals and an assist, coupled with Hofer’s career-high 37 saves, were pivotal in the Blues’ impressive performance.
Jordan Kyrou and Robert Thomas also made significant contributions, with Kyrou adding a goal and an assist, and Thomas providing three assists. The Blues (16-15-1), who have been rejuvenated under coach Drew Bannister with a 3-1-0 record, bounced back strongly from their 6-1 defeat against the Tampa Bay Lightning on Tuesday.
“This win shows the character and resilience of our team,” Bannister remarked, praising his team’s response after the recent tough stretch.
The Panthers (18-12-2), facing a challenging phase with four losses in their last five games, struggled to find their rhythm. Despite Eetu Luostarinen’s goal, Florida’s offense couldn’t capitalize on their chances. Goalie Sergei Bobrovsky, despite making 20 saves, couldn’t stem the Blues’ attack. Coach Paul Maurice of the Panthers pointed out the need for a more disciplined approach, emphasizing the cost of giving up critical chances.
The game’s momentum shifted in the second period when Kyrou opened the scoring for the Blues at 4:50. Shortly after, Buchnevich had a goal disallowed for offside, only to score legitimately minutes later, extending the lead to 2-0.
Luostarinen brought the Panthers back into contention with a peculiar long-range goal, capitalizing on an unusual bounce off the glass that caught Hofer off guard. Despite this setback, Hofer remained focused, later reflecting on the incident with a light-hearted perspective.
St. Louis regained their two-goal cushion through Alexey Toropchenko, who redirected Marco Scandella’s shot for a 3-1 lead. The Panthers’ hopes of a comeback were further dented when Ryan Lomberg’s goal was disallowed in the third period due to a high stick.
Buchnevich sealed the victory with an empty-net goal, bringing the final score to 4-1. Kyrou praised the team’s strong start and overall response, highlighting the importance of bouncing back after the defeat in Tampa.
The Blues’ top line of Buchnevich, Thomas, and Kyrou was particularly effective, combining for eight points. Hofer, who made 12 crucial saves in the third period, lauded their performance. “When they are on their game, we’re tough to beat,” he said.
Additional notes from the game include Thomas achieving his sixth three-assist game in the NHL, Blues defenseman Colton Parayko’s six blocked shots in over 24 minutes of ice time, and the Panthers’ key players, including Matthew Tkachuk and Aleksander Barkov, facing a challenging night. Barkov, however, excelled in face-offs, winning 14 of 17 attempts.
This victory is a significant morale booster for the Blues, showcasing their potential for strong team play and resilience. The Panthers, on the other hand, will look to regroup and address the issues that have led to their recent slide.
