NEW DELHI: The St. Louis Blues easily defeated the Edmonton Oilers, 6-3. Robert Thomas and Jake Neighbours were key players, each scoring a goal and two assists to drive the Blues to their eighth win in ten games.
Jordan Binnington, the Blues’ goaltender, made 36 saves, including two impressive stops on Zach Hyman during an Edmonton power play in the first period. Binnington’s neighbours commended his regular excellence, saying, “It’s just become normal for him at this point, and I mean all of us expect to see it.”
Jordan Kyrou, Torey Krug, and Pavel Buchnevich each had a goal and an assist, while Brandon Saad scored as well.
“We’re coming along,” Thomas said. “I believe we are moving in the right path. We’re getting together as a team and playing the proper way.”
Despite goals by Leon Draisaitl, Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, and Corey Perry for the Oilers, the Blues regained charge in the second period, scoring four straight goals. Krug, Kyrou, and Buchnevich all contributed to the scoring frenzy.
Blues goaltender Binnington praised his team’s effort in the second period, saying, “We were terrific. The power play was working well. We played the correct way. “If we do that, play together, and believe in our structure, we will have a chance every night.”
- After a 16-game winning streak, the Oilers experienced their third loss in five games. Despite taking a 2-1 lead in the first period, the Oilers struggled to stop the Blues’ offensive onslaught.
Edmonton coach Kris Knoblauch recognized the Blues’ strong play, saying, “I liked how we were just keeping our game simple, getting in on the forecheck and then spending some time in the offensive zone because that’s where we were playing our best.”
Edmonton’s nine penalties, including a six-minute stretch in the third period, hampered any possible comeback. Derek Ryan, Oilers center, emphasized the difficulties presented by the infractions, saying, “It makes it really hard when you take that many penalties.”
