The St. Louis Blues snapped the Tampa Bay Lightning’s franchise-record-tying 11-game winning streak with a dramatic 3-2 shootout victory on Friday night at Enterprise Center. Jordan Kyrou scored the lone shootout goal, and goaltender Joel Hofer made 34 saves to secure the win for the Blues.
In a fast-paced first period, the Blues took an early 2-0 lead with goals just 30 seconds apart. Jake Neighbours opened the scoring at 17:03, capitalizing on a deflected shot, and Nick Bjugstad extended the lead at 17:33 with a wrist shot from the slot. The Lightning, however, rallied in the second period with a pair of power-play goals. Nikita Kucherov scored on a two-man advantage at 9:59, and Oliver Bjorkstrand tied the game at 11:01, both assisted by Darren Raddysh.
Regulation and overtime saw both teams exchanging chances, with Hofer and Lightning goalie Andrei Vasilevskiy making key saves to keep the score deadlocked. The Blues, who had been 0-8 in overtime and shootout situations this season, finally broke through in the tiebreaker. In the second round of the shootout, Kyrou executed a backhand shot that beat Vasilevskiy, while Hofer stopped all three Lightning attempts, including a final save on Kucherov.
Kyrou expressed relief after the game, stating, “It feels great. Obviously, we haven’t done that all year. It feels good to get that one.” Hofer added, “I don’t think I’ve been very successful in shootouts before. It was nice to get a win, actually.” Blues coach Jim Montgomery praised his team’s effort, saying, “It’s nice to get that win against a really good team, and I like the way we’re competing.”
For the Lightning, the loss ended their impressive run that had not seen a defeat since December 18. Coach Jon Cooper acknowledged the effort, noting, “We’ve put ourselves in position to win the past 12 games… Tonight we had ample opportunities to pull this one out.” Despite the setback, the Lightning earned a point and maintained their strong position in the standings.
The victory marked a significant moment for the Blues, who have struggled in close games this season. It also highlighted the resilience of the Lightning, who managed to come back from a two-goal deficit on the road. Both teams demonstrated why they are competitive forces in the NHL, with key players stepping up in crucial moments.
Looking ahead, the Blues will aim to build on this win as they continue their push for playoff contention. The Lightning, while disappointed, can take confidence from their extended point streak and focus on maintaining their momentum in upcoming games. This game served as a reminder of the unpredictability and excitement inherent in professional hockey.
In conclusion, the Blues’ shootout triumph over the Lightning was a showcase of determination and skill, ending one of the season’s most notable streaks and providing a boost to St. Louis’s campaign.
