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Blues Lineup:
Forwards
Brayden Schenn - Ryan O’Reilly - Vladimir Tarasenko
Jaden Schwartz - Oskar Sundqvist - David Perron
Pat Maroon - Tyler Bozak - Robert Thomas
Zach Sanford - Ivan Barbashev - Alexander Steen
Defense
Vince Dunn - Alex Pietrangelo
Jay Bouwmeester - Colton Parayko
Carl Gunnarsson - Robert Bortuzzo
Goalie
Jordan Binnington
Game Highlights:
First Period -
The Blues and Rangers played a very fast first period. By that, there were very few whistles or stoppages really. The first real stop of the period came when the Blues scored their first goal of the night. With five and a half minutes left in the period, Vladimir Tarasenko jammed the puck past Rangers starter Not Henrik Lundqvist. Er, Alexandar Georgiev, whatever that is. Tarasenko notched his 30th goal of the year 1-0 Blues.
Jaden Schwartz and David Perron combine just 27 seconds later to give the Blues a 2-0 lead. Schwartz found Perron hanging out right in front of the net. Perron doesn’t miss the tap in opportunity and things were looking good for the Blues. After one period shots were 11-10 in favor of the Rangers.
Second Period -
Well as good as the scoresheet looked for the Blues in the first, not so much in the second. The Rangers scored their first of two goals in the period thanks to Colton Parayko and Ryan Strome. Pat Maroon turned the puck over at center ice. The Rangers fire it on net, and the puck bounced around in the crease. Parayko, usually great in clearing the puck out of the crease knocked this one into his own net. Oops. Blues still up 2-1.
The Rangers tied the game on a one time chance from Pavel Buchnevich. Probably didn’t help that Parayko was tied up and fell right on his ass. Which somehow the Blues collectively did here in the second.
Despite the Blues having 20 shots on goal in the second, the Rangers were the only ones who found the back of the net. 2-2 after 2.
Third Period -
The Rangers went up for good in the third. Binnington made the initial save on Brett Howden but Jimmy Vesey is there for the rebound. That gave the Rangers a 3-2 lead and wound up being the game winner.
Just for good measure Chris Kreider adds an empty netter.
The Blues had 46 shots on goal in the game. They scored twice. That seems dumb. The Blues play again tomorrow against the Devils.
Goals:
STL - Tarasenko (30) from Schenn (34) and O’Reilly (45), and Perron (21) from Schwartz (25)
NYR - Strome (17) unassisted, Buchnevich (19) from Zibanejad (41), Vesey (17) Howden (15) and Letteri (1) and Kreider (27) fom Buchnevich (17) and Pionk (18)
From the Twit:
It’s not all doom and gloom. Last check the Avs were about to help the Blues get in the playoffs.
Colorado takes a 2-0 lead. #stlblues https://t.co/gwJTTQVOxD
— Lou Korac (@lkorac10) March 30, 2019
Yep.
Ryan O'Reilly admitted part of the Blues problem tonight was they took the Rangers lightly, especially after going up 2-0: "We thought they’d kind of go away, but they’re just a team that keeps skating, waiting for bounces and jumping in the rush every time."
— Dan Rosen (@drosennhl) March 30, 2019
Also, yep.
Bozak frustrated after the #stlblues' loss to the #NYRangers: "Whenever you're up 2-0, you should win that game." pic.twitter.com/zBvbYSWowT
— FOX Sports Midwest (@FSMidwest) March 30, 2019
Player of the Game:
Lundqvist. Stupid Sexy Lundqvist