The St. Louis Blues defeated the Vancouver Canucks 6-5 in an exciting overtime victory on Tuesday night at the Enterprise Center. The match saw plenty of offensive firepower from both sides, but it was Jakub Vrana who secured the win for the Blues with his two-goal performance, including the game-winning goal in overtime.
Blues Take Early Lead, Canucks Comeback in Third Period
The Blues dominated early on, taking a commanding 5-3 lead into the third period. Pavel Buchnevich, Alexey Toropchenko, Justin Faulk, Robert Thomas and Vrana all scored for St. Louis. However, Vancouver staged a remarkable comeback in the final period to force overtime. Quinn Hughes was particularly impressive for the Canucks, scoring twice and playing a crucial role in his team’s comeback.
Binnington Saves the Day
Blues goaltender Jordan Binnington was instrumental in securing his team’s victory, making 32 saves on 37 shots. His efforts helped keep the Canucks at bay during overtime, setting up Vrana’s dramatic winning goal.
Hofer Sent to AHL
The Blues made a significant roster move before the match, assigning goaltender Joel Hofer to their AHL affiliate team, Springfield Thunderbirds. This came after Hofer started five of six games during his recall to St. Louis.
Blues Extend Dominance Over Canucks
St. Louis has now won four out of five games against Vancouver this season and is an incredible 40-2 against them since December 2011.
Canucks’ Winning Streak Broken
Vancouver came into this game on a three-game winning streak and had won five of their last six matches. While they put up a valiant effort to come back against the Blues, the Canucks ultimately fell short.
Vrana Shines in Blues Debut
Jakub Vrana’s debut with the Blues was an impressive one. He scored two goals, including the all-important game-winner in overtime, and gave Blues fans plenty of reasons to be excited about his acquisition from the Washington Capitals.
Overall, this was a thrilling and entertaining matchup between two competitive Western Conference teams. While Vancouver will be disappointed with the loss, they can take heart from their impressive comeback in the third period. However, it is St. Louis who will be celebrating as they extend their winning streak to five out of their last seven games.
Image Source: Wikimedia Commons
