Blues At Devils Recap: Trapped by The Devil(s)

Justin Faulk did not play tonight. He suffered an “upper body injury” and didn’t suit up tonight.

First Period -

Something called a Jesper Bratt got the scoring started for both sides in this one. P.K. Subban collected a puck off of Cory Schneider’s pads. Subban got the puck up ice to Bratt. Bratt skated around a defending Colton Parayko and towards the net. Bratt skated in on Jordan Binnington. Bratt fired the puck past Binnington and into the back of the net. 1-0 Devils.

Four minutes later, the Blues tied the game at one. While on the power play, Vince Dunn collected a nice fat rebound for a goal and his ninth of the year. Robert Thomas (31) made a hard pass over to Tyler Bozak. Bozak (16) then deflected that pass towards the net. The puck bounced off of Schneider’s pad and back out. Dunn was there to clean up the rebound and get the Blues right back in this game. The second power play unit (if you want to call them that right now) has accounted for the last four power play goals.

The period ended 1-1. Shots in the period were 9-8 in favor of the Blues.

Second Period -

Alton Illinois’ own Dakota Mermis scored his first ever NHL goal with a little help from a screen in front. Mermis brought the puck into the zone and fired a shot on net. Binnington was able to fight that shot off. However, the Blues didn’t clear it out and the Devils were able to get another chance. Mermis ended up with the puck again. Colton Parayko was trying to clear the front of the net of a Devils player. In doing so he ended up right in front of Binnington. Mermis fired the puck on net. Again, you can’t stop what you can’t see and Binnington had no chance to see that shot. 2-1 Devils.

Mermis wasn’t the only one to get his first goal of the year in this one. Connor Carrick scored in almost the same fashion that Mermis did. Carrick fired a wrist shot on net. Well this time it was Scandella and a Devil providing the door in front of Binnington. Needless to say Binnington wasn’t stopping this one either giving the Devils a 3-1 lead.

That was almost made a 4-1 lead just seconds later. Thankfully it was ruled goaltender interference...

At the end of two it was 3-1 Devils. Shots were 15-14 in favor of New Jersey.

Third Period -

Jaden Schwartz cut the Devils lead to just one late in the game. Brayden Schenn (31) was able to find Schwartz from behind the net. Schwartz wasn’t gonna shoot this one wide as he was all up in the crease. Schwartz netted his 22nd of the year. Schwartz giving the Blues a little hope even after the Blues hadn’t played all that great...

...And it’s gone.

The Blues drop this one to the Devils 4-2. Eight game win streak comes to an end. It was a game that, on paper at least, the Blues should have won. They’ll head over to Chicago to take on the Blackhawks Sunday night.

Final shot totals were 33-32 in favor of the Blues.

Three Stars

1. Corey Schneider - give him credit. He was done in the minors for a spell this year, but looked good against the Blues tonight.
2. Dakota Mermis - Alton sucks. I’m kidding. Kind of.
3. Jesper Bratt - The Blues already had the L locked up after a guy named Bratt scored.

Tweets you probably saw but here they are again.

As bad as the Blues looked, give credit to the Devils. They looked like a competent hockey team tonight. But he’s right, let’s all just move on.

The only thing the Devils will win this year...St. Louis Barbecue.

Ok, I guess I’ll give them a little more credit...