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Blues Lineup:
Niko Mikkola made his NHL debut tonight after it was announced that both Colton Parayko and Carl Gunnarsson would sit out for another game.
Forwards -
Jaden Schwartz - Brayden Schenn - Jordan Kyrou
Zach Sanford - Ryan O’Reilly - David Perron
Alexander Steen - Robert Thomas - Tyler Bozak
Mackenzie MacEachern - Ivan Barbashev - Oskar Sundqvist
Defensemen -
Vince Dunn - Alex Pietrangelo
Jay Bouwmeester - Justin Faulk
Niko Mikkola - Robert Bortuzzo
Goaltender -
Jordan Binnington
Game Highlights:
First Period -
No goals were scored in the first. Shots were 10-5 in favor of the Blues.
Second Period -
With a little over five minutes gone in the period, Tyler Bozak puts the Blues on the board. Brayden Schenn was able to get the puck up ice to Bozak. Bozak and Alexander Steen rushed up the ice. Bozak passed it to Steen, who then passed it back to Bozak. Bozak then fired the puck on net and beat Aaron Dell. Bozak scored his ninth goal of the year with Steen (8) and Schenn (18) with the assists.
Just a minute and twenty seconds later, the Blues struck the back of the net again. Ivan Barbashev found himself with a breakaway chance. Aaron Dell was up to the task on stopping the chance. However, the Blues kept the puck in the zone. Oskar Sundqvist found Barbashev parked in front of the net, and Barbashev cashed in on his second chance for a goal. Barbashev (6) from Sundqvist (6)
At the end of two, the Blues held a two goal lead at 2-0. Shots on goal for the period were 11-9 in favor of the Sharks.
Third Period -
The Sharks scored on their only power play of the night a little over two minutes into the third. Timo Meier took the pass from Erik Karlsson and fired a shot on net. Binnington had a screen in front of him, and next thing you know the puck was in the back of the net. Meier (15) from Karlsson (27) and Barclay Goodrow (12). Just like that it’s a one goal game at 2-1.
Moments later, Perron makes case 12,457 on why he should be in the All Star game. A face off win from Ryan O’Reilly set up the goal. Perron just fired the puck on the net after the O’Reilly win and Dell couldn’t stop the shot. Simple as that right? Perron (18) from O’Reilly (31)
Narrator - No it was not as simple as that. Sigh, Erik Karlsson scored his 5th goal of the year while the Sharks were on the penalty kill. Well, kind of. Karlsson got the puck in behind Binnington, and it almost looked as if O’Reilly accidentally knocked the puck over the line. In any event the Sharks pulled to within one again at 3-2.
Thankfully, the Sharks couldn’t do anymore damage on their own, and the Blues took this one by that 3-2 score. The Blues power play went 0-3 on the night. Can’t fault them too much for that though as the only thing it seems that the Sharks do well this year is kill penalties. The Blues welcome the Sabres to the Enterprise Thursday night.
Three Stars -
3rd: Vince Dunn for not being hurt maybe? 2nd: Tyler Bozak 1st: Ivan Barbashev
Here’s Some Tweets Doo Doo Doo Doo Doo Doo -
The guy that should be in the All Star game with some post game comments.
David Perron feels locked in this season: "It's certainly nice when it's clicking. I think coming to the rink and not really having to look at the board and look at the jersey color every day, it's certainly refreshing and gives you a lot of energy." #stlblues pic.twitter.com/6pyux5ebma
— FOX Sports Midwest (@FSMidwest) January 8, 2020
Alex Steen may not be the same guy as in years past, but he’s been doing what’s been asked of him. Including setting up Bozak for a goal.
Tyler Bozak on Alexander Steen, who assisted on his goal tonight: "He does all the things out there that a lot of people wouldn't notice, but we notice in this room. Obviously, a veteran play by him to make that little touch pass back to me there." #stlblues pic.twitter.com/dtcOWrb6ZC
— FOX Sports Midwest (@FSMidwest) January 8, 2020
Chief Postgame Comments -
LIVE: Blues Head Coach Craig Berube comments on tonight's game against San Jose. #stlblues https://t.co/HexEbbZsa2
— St. Louis Blues (@StLouisBlues) January 8, 2020
Things you actually hate to see...Logan Couture went down awkwardly and didn’t return. Hopefully he’s ok.
Logan Couture goes into the boards awkwardly and immediately comes up holding his knee. Couture was helped off the ice and taken to the locker room for further evaluation. #SJSharks #stlblues #NHL #HockeyTribune #Hockey pic.twitter.com/DgjdDad5ED
— The Hockey Tribune (@tribune_hockey) January 8, 2020
And finally...What a difference a year makes...
One year ago today...and the rest is history. https://t.co/XwRqjlAtUw #stlblues pic.twitter.com/ldycNJ090A
— St. Louis Blues (@StLouisBlues) January 7, 2020