Takeaways from Blues’ 3-2 Win vs. Blackhawks

In the second period, Justin Faulk scored the Blues’ third goal to take a 3-1 lead. The goal was a great example of getting pucks and bodies close to the net. While there wasn’t much contact on the play, that net-front presence was completely missing against the Predators. Faulk was able to force himself into the crease and sneak one past the Spencer Knight for his seventh of the season.

Also in the second period, Robby Fabbri delivered a huge hit on Teuvo Teravainen, sending him into the Blues bench. The reaction from the Blues bench showed just how much the play fired up the team. Plays like that send a message that you’re not a soft team and often lead to bigger, better moments.

Someone you wouldn’t expect to drop the gloves, Dylan Holloway, got in on the action. He and Connor Murphy dropped the gloves in the second period, and while it was short and more of a wrestling match, it showed another player willing to bring some grit. It was just the third fight of Holloway’s entire career.

Some New Contributors Have Emerged

With the injury problems in St. Louis, there is no way the team will win unless the callups can start making something happen. Friday night, they did.

Logan Mailloux opened the scoring with his first goal as a Blue at 3:41 of the first period. With a delayed penalty after Jake Neighbours drew a minor, Robert Thomas made a great pass to Mailloux, who was just stepping onto the ice from the bench. Mailloux then ripped a shot from the top of the left circle, far side, to make it 1-0.

Matt Luff also scored his first as a Blue 11:48 into the first period. Robby Fabbri recored his second assist this season in two games. After entering the zone on the left side he hit Luff coming down the slot where he slinged a wrist shot past glove side.

Seeing some of the new guys finally get on the scoresheet should only build confidence with the puck, and with the current injuries, those players may be in the lineup for a while.

Defense Gave Hofer a Chance

Too often this season, the Blues’ defense hasn’t given its goaltenders much of a chance. Hofer faced 26 shots, stopping 24 for a .931 save percentage. While he made a few big saves, the defense did a better job clearing pucks, allowing seven high-danger chances in the game. There were still breakdowns, however, and the Blackhawks capitalized on one of them.

Chicago’s first goal was a perfect snipe, but the second came off a costly defensive-zone mistake. After Schenn won the draw, the puck bounced off the boards and around the net. Colton Parayko tried to reach for the puck but couldn’t get it. Broberg tried to box out Connor Bedard but lost him, and Bedard fed Andre Burakovsky for a backdoor tap-in.

That was one of the few defensive mistakes, and it wasn’t even that bad. The team did a much better job of containing shots and clearing the puck out of the zone. Now, they just need to perform like this consistently.