Yardbarker
x
Blues player of the game vs. Oilers: Jake Neighbours
Jeff Curry-USA TODAY Sports

The St. Louis Blues didn't feel like they had to peel any paint off the walls.

There wasn't a sense of panic.

Blues player of the game vs. Oilers: Jake Neighbours (1:43)

"We honestly weren't that frustrated with our first period," Blues forward Jake Neighbours said. "You take three penalties and give the best power play unit in the league a lot of looks, that's going to obviously take away a lot of momentum, but I thought our start was good. Five-on-five, we were good. I thought we controlled most of the game and when you give them power plays, you're going to get in trouble and gives their top guys confidence, get them feeling the puck and you don't want to do that. Obviously came in here, regrouped, had a great second."

Neighbours was especially good; the forward fueled another comeback win, 6-3 against the high-flying Edmonton Oilers on Thursday at Enterprise Center, with a goal and two assists in a four-goal second period.

His early goal sparked the comeback after being down 2-1 and his tenaciousness and relentless play around the net helped the Blues (29-22-2) overcome a 2-1 deficit in the first period, one in which goalie Jordan Binnington made two highlight-reel saves on Oilers forward Zach Hyman within 72 seconds of each other late in the period to keep the game close enough for the comeback.

"I didn't even know how to react," Neighbours said. "I didn't stand up, I didn't bang my (stick), I didn't know what to do. It's become normal for him at this point. All of us expect to see it. We obviously can't rely on it. When there are breakdowns, he's obviously there."

And when Binnington was there, Neighbours and Co. rose to the occasion. 

Neighbours now has three multi-point games (four goals, three assists) the past four games and continues to grow his confidence.

"I thought Jakey was great tonight," Blues interim coach Drew Bannister said. "We had a tough game in Toronto, everybody, and I thought all the guys responded properly. They came to play, all of our guys, and Jakey was one of them. All those guys stepped up."

Neighbours is just feeding off the responsibilities and confidence.

"Yeah for sure," he said. "I'm being put in really good positions by my linemates, my guys around me, by my coaches. It's  my job, if I'm going to get those opportunities, to go out there and take advantage of it and do what I can with them. I feel good about my game."

This article first appeared on FanNation Inside The Blues and was syndicated with permission.

More must-reads:

Customize Your Newsletter

+

Get the latest news and rumors, customized to your favorite sports and teams. Emailed daily. Always free!

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.