Blues End Lightning’s Streak
In a thrilling encounter at the Enterprise Center, the St. Louis Blues managed to put an end to the Tampa Bay Lightning‘s impressive streak on Friday night, taking the game 3-2 after a shootout. The notable moment came when Jordan Kyrou netted the decisive goal during the shootout, skillfully placing a backhand shot past Lightning goalie Andrei Vasilevskiy.
Key Performances
Goalkeeper Joel Hofer was crucial for the Blues, making a total of 34 saves during the match, adding three more stops in the shootout, including a critical save against Nikita Kucherov that could have extended the tie. This victory marked St. Louis’s first success in overtime or shootouts this season, breaking an 0-8 run in such scenarios.
Game Highlights
The game featured an exhilarating first period where the Blues surged to a 2-0 lead with two quick goals scored just 30 seconds apart. Jake Neighbors ignited the scoring with just under three minutes remaining, followed by Nick Bjugstad, who capitalized on a prime opportunity in the slot.
However, the Lightning responded fiercely in the second period with two power-play goals within a minute. Kucherov broke through at the 9:59 mark while the team enjoyed a two-man advantage, and he soon assisted Oliver Bjorkstrand’s goal just 1:02 later. Both scores were assisted by Darren Raddysh, demonstrating a strong Lightning offense.
Looking Ahead
Despite the loss, Tampa Bay aimed for a franchise-record 12th consecutive win, having last lost to the Los Angeles Kings on December 18. Notably, this team had matched their previous best of 11 consecutive victories from January 29 to February 17, 2020, a stretch during which they went on to claim the Stanley Cup.
Looking ahead, the Lightning will travel to face the Dallas Stars on Sunday, while the Blues are set to challenge the Edmonton Oilers later that evening.
