Blues Struggle Against Blue Jackets
ST. LOUIS – With an opportunity to secure five out of eight points during a four-game home stretch before the Olympic hiatus, the St. Louis Blues found themselves in dire need of points. However, despite a promising start, they fell short against the Columbus Blue Jackets, who triumphed 5-3 at the Enterprise Center on Saturday. This defeat marks the Blues’ fourth consecutive loss to a team playing on the second night of a back-to-back, as the Blue Jackets made it five wins in a row and seven out of eight since Rick Bowness took the reins as head coach on January 13.
Game Overview
Following a thrilling 5-4 victory against the defending Stanley Cup champions, Florida Panthers, the Blues (20-26-9) struggled to maintain consistent energy throughout the game. Head coach Jim Montgomery noted,
“I think in the first two periods, we wanted it to come easy. We were not skating, working, or hitting like we have in recent games,”
acknowledging the team’s inability to sustain their earlier momentum.
Key Moments
Early in the game, Blues forward Jimmy Snuggerud opened the scoring by netting a goal after a clever give-and-go play with Brayden Schenn at 7:11. This moment of brilliance gave St. Louis a brief 1-0 lead. However, just 37 seconds later, Isac Lundestrom evened the score for Columbus, taking advantage of a lapse in the Blues’ defensive coverage. The Blue Jackets took the lead 2-1 by the end of the first period and outshot the Blues 10-7 after being outshot early on.
Despite a series of good chances, the Blues were unable to convert their opportunities into sustained offensive pressure.
“We have to find ways to dig in for one another. Realistically, you can’t come back every third period,”
Schenn remarked, emphasizing the team’s tendency to chase games rather than establish control early on.
Defensive Struggles
The Blues failed to adequately protect the area in front of their net—a critical aspect where they had shown improvement. Columbus capitalized on this weakness, scoring three goals that came off rebounds and deflections amidst traffic in front of Jordan Binnington, who made 18 saves. The Blue Jackets extended their lead with goals from Kent Johnson and Damon Severson during the second period. Montgomery credited Bowness and the Blue Jackets for their physical style of play, pointing out that their success was rooted in playing aggressively and effectively at the net front.
Bright Spots
Despite challenges, Blues forward Jonatan Berggren has been gaining traction after previously struggling for nine games without a point. He scored a power-play goal to tie the game at 2-2 early in the second, marking his second goal in back-to-back matches.
“I’ve created a lot, and it’s nice to see the puck go in,”
Berggren commented positively about his recent form.
Final Thoughts
The Blues had multiple opportunities to seize momentum after scoring; however, each time they found the net, Columbus responded swiftly, maintaining a lead that they would not relinquish. The final period saw an increase in Blues pressure, as the team recorded 15 shots compared to just 4 from Columbus, but the quality of chances wasn’t enough to turn the game around. Montgomery lamented the lack of high-danger chances, particularly during power plays.
In the wake of their fourth consecutive loss, the Blues are left grappling with their inability to capitalize on opportunities and rise in the standings. With the Olympic break approaching, they will need to regroup and improve if they hope to turn their season around.
