Takeaways from Blues Shutout Win Over Sabres

Hofer Stood Tall

Joel Hofer has had a rough start to the season, and so has Jordan Binnington. But Thursday night was far from rough for Hofer. Saving all 28 shots, and with a little help from the post, he gave the team the confidence they needed to work offensively. This is considered an unusual performance, as Hofer came into this game with a 5.01 GAA and a .836 save percentage. Hofer seemed calm and relaxed, even in high-pressure situations.

The glove save he made on Josh Doan in the first period is the save that gives the skaters confidence, knowing they have someone to back them. The Sabres had many scoring chances and laid down a lot of shots, but Hofer stood tall, showing how he can really play.

Joseph Shined

Mathieu Joseph returned after being a healthy scratch in the previous game and made an immediate impact. For starters, the hustle that Joseph brought to the lineup is exactly what Montgomery said he was looking for. The shorthanded goal that Joseph scored in the first period, forcing a turnover in the defensive zone and then hustling on the breakaway, showed he wanted to be there.

But that wasn’t all he did. On top of his goal, he added two assists, making him a contributor to all three goals. He showed how to play both ends of the ice while playing a very physical game. That is how you keep yourself on the roster.

Secondary Scoring

Nick Bjugstad cashed in on his opportunity, scoring early in the second period to make it 2-0. He snapped a quick wrist shot from the top of the circle, beating Luukkonen. Again, with Kyrou being scratched — one of the team’s top scorers — somebody has to step up. Bjugstad was another one who answered that call.

Justin Faulk added a late empty-netter goal to finish off the scoring, giving the Blues a comfortable 3-0 lead. He also had an assist.

Successful Penalty Kill

The penalty kill was flawless. St. Louis went 3-for-3 on the night, shutting down every Buffalo power play. That’s extremely impressive considering the Blues rank 30th in the NHL with a 67.6% success rate on the PK. Smart positioning and great goaltending was able to keep the puck out of the net. A step in the right direction for this special teams unit.

Winning Battles

Something the Blues did on Thursday was win puck battles all over the ice. In the loss to the Capitals, many puck battles were lost along the boards. Not this game. St. Louis just seemed more physical overall, knocking players off pucks and getting a stick on a puck. St. Louis did a good job breaking up passes and beating Buffalo’s players to pucks compared to previous games.

Overall, the Blues showed they can win even when stars are out. With Kyrou and Sundqvist scratched, other players stepped up, Hofer stood tall in the net, and the team’s PK and puck battles carried them through. It was a reminder that when St. Louis plays smart, tough, and disciplined hockey, they don’t need to be flashy to get the job done.