It's not always about filling up the stat sheet when it comes to someone who makes an impact in a game.
No, Alexey Toropchenko didn't factor in the scoring during the St. Louis Blues' 7-5 come-from-behind win against the Chicago Blackhawks at Enterprise Center on Saturday, but to say he didn't factor in the game, well, let's just say that's false thinking.
Even when the Blues (17-15-1) were down three goals in the third period to the lowly Chicago Blackhawks (10-22-1), Toropchenko, as he always does, kept working. The forward's hustle drew a penalty at 4:36 that didn't result in a goal, but it did serve as a springboard if events that led to a five-goal onslaught.
And when the Blues scored three times in 3:13 to tie the game late in the third period, Toropchenko, in the ultimate sacrifice play, laid his body, or face, on the line to keep his team even, blocking a Jason Dickinson shot with his face with just over four minutes to play.
Toropchenko was immediately attended to by teammates, bleeding from above his nose but he also had a fat lip as he took most of the brunt of that shot. Perhaps his visor absorbed some of the blow but not nearly enough of it.
"I don't want to say that's typical of him, but that's typical of the third period of our group and how we played," interim coach Drew Bannister said. "We did some really good things offensively. Our power play came through for us, and when we needed a block or we needed somebody to sacrifice their body, guys were there to do it."
If Chicago scores there, they forge ahead 6-5 and perhaps squelch the Blues' comeback but, but Toropchenko made sure it remained 5-5, and a minute later, Justin Faulk was putting the Blues ahead 6-5 before Jordan Kyrou finished off the comeback with an empty-netter.
Toropchenko was minus-1 in the game in 11:57 of ice time and had two shots on goal.
"Maybe try and use your body next time," Blues forward Robert Thomas said jokingly. "Just an exciting game. He deserves a big pat on the back for that. That's a gutsy play. That's what it took to win tonight. Super happy for his effort."
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