In a tightly contested game, the St. Louis Blues managed to edge out the Carolina Hurricanes with a 2-1 victory in a shootout at PNC Arena. The Blues’ success was largely attributed to Jordan Binnington’s stellar performance in goal, making 29 saves throughout the game.
Interim coach Drew Bannister praised Binnington, acknowledging him as a catalyst for the team. The Blues (20-17-1) have now won two consecutive games, with Nathan Walker scoring in regulation and Jake Neighbours and Brayden Schenn securing the win in the shootout.
The Hurricanes (22-13-5) extended their point streak to six games despite the loss. Teuvo Teravainen scored Carolina’s only goal, and Antti Raanta made 21 saves. Coach Rod Brind’Amour expressed satisfaction with the team’s performance, especially considering it was the second game of a back-to-back.
Walker’s breakaway goal gave the Blues an early lead, but Teravainen’s power-play goal in the first period brought the Hurricanes level. Despite the equalizer, Binnington’s saves, especially in the second period, kept the Blues in the game.
Binnington highlighted the importance of being in a rhythm and credited his team for playing well defensively. Raanta, who recently returned from a stint in the AHL, appreciated the fan support, noting that even routine saves were met with enthusiastic cheers.
Schenn, who scored in the shootout but has been experiencing a goal drought in regular play, took a simple approach, focusing on speed and not overthinking his shot.
The game also saw Colton Parayko surpass Barclay Plager for fourth among Blues defensemen in games played, reaching 615 games. For the Hurricanes, Sebastian Aho and Andrei Svechnikov saw their six-game point streaks come to an end.
This victory for the Blues demonstrates their ability to win close games and the pivotal role of their goaltending. For the Hurricanes, the game was another step in maintaining their strong form, as they look forward to a six-game homestand.
