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Blues best the Stars head to Toronto to face the Leafs

October 7, 2019, 5:55 PM ET [19 Comments]
Jason Millen
St Louis Blues Blogger • RSSArchiveCONTACT


The Blues bested the Stars on Saturday night thanks to a couple of fortuitous bounces, one off Ben Bishop and the other off Sammy Blais derriere.

The Blues stormed out to an early lead, just 1:21 into the game, taking just a bit longer than opening night. Colton Parayko joined Sammy Blais and David Perron on the rush. Parayko drives through the middle of the ice toward the net, drawing the attention of a defender and allowing Blais room to slide a pass to Perron on right wing. Perron makes not mistake with his shot, putting it where Grandma keeps the cookies. Watch it here.

Much like opening night, the Blues would give up a goal in the second half of the 1st period, this time tying the game. Adding insult to injury, the goal would be short-handed and a result of poor play by two of the Blues' better players, Jordan Binnington and Jaden Schwartz. Binnington does a poor job in handling the initial shot, letting the puck squeeze through him into the crease. In Schwartz's attempt to clear the puck, one that likely would have been easily covered by Binnington, he knocks it into his own net. Watch it here.

The Stars would take the lead midway through the second on a goal from Miro Heiskanen after Binnington makes two good saves on a Stars get a four on two rush. Unfortunately, Binnington isn't able to recover from the second save to get into a good position, allowing the bad angle goal from Heiskanen. On the surface, the goal might look bad to some who saw the highlight of only the goal but the play leading up to it and the two good saves are what don't allow Binnington to get into the position he would like to be in when the shot is taken.

Lucky for Blues fan, the Blues would notch their 1st third period comeback of the season, getting goals from Brayden Schenn and Sammy Blais. Schenn's blast goes off goalie Ben Bishop and then hits his back and runs down into the net as Alex Pietrangelo is diving to try and help the puck cross the line.

Midway through the 3rd period, Carl Gunnarsson's point shot goes off Sammy Blais and then Stars defenseman Taylor Fedun. The double deflection makes the shot almost impossible to stop and beats Bishop for the game winner.

As I mentioned in my 1st blog of the season, Justin Faulk did improve in game two as expected, playing just under 20 minutes, firing five shots on net, making two hits and earning a block and a takeaway. Ryan O'Reilly and Sammy Blais were again two of the best players on the ice, combining for one goal and two assists, six hits, three shots and two takeaways.

Robby Fabbri struggled again with no shots and a -1 in just over ten minutes of ice time. Zach Sanford also struggled, not even getting to nine minutes of ice time. Vince Dunn struggled again with a -2, no points or blocks in just under 17 minutes of ice time.

Jordan Binnington stopped 27 of 29 though he likely wants the Stars 1st goal back.

Tonight the Blues will be visiting the Toronto Maple Leafs, like the Blues the Leafs have yet to lose in regulation, going 2-0-1. Auston Matthews has been on fire with five goals in three games. Mitch Marner and Morgan Reilly also have five points while Tyson Barrie has four.

Insanely, the Leafs have nine players averaging a point or more per game helping them sit in the top five in goals per game. Of course, they are only 14th in goals against per game (three per game).

Jordan Binnington will get his first start in Toronto, a very short drive from where he grew up.

It’s a great day for hockey.
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