3 Takeaways From the Blues’ Overtime Loss to the Devils

The St. Louis Blues fell to the New Jersey Devils in overtime, 5-4, on Thursday night. The Devils looked to be on their way to victory after a dominant first period and a 4-1 lead with under nine minutes left in the third. However, the Blues rallied for three goals to force overtime, but the Devils prevailed on a breakaway goal by Jesper Bratt.

There is a lot to get into from this game, so let’s not waste any time and jump right into the takeaways.

Takeaway #1: Team Crashed the Net

After the team’s loss on Tuesday, head coach Jim Montgomery emphasized the need to go to the net. Montgomery specified the team needed to go to the net when they had the puck in the offensive zone.

The players adjusted and crashed the net all night. Three of the Blues’ four goals came from being in front of the net. Robert Thomas scored on the power play after taking a pass in front of the net from Mason McTavish. McTavish scored on a rebound after a shot by Justin Barron. Lastly, Dalibor Dvorsky scored the tying goal by going to the net after Devils’ goaltender Connor Hellebuyck turned the puck over.

The Blues stole a valuable point on Thursday by keeping the puck around the net. They may have lost the game ultimately, but their net-front presence was effective, and it can be a key ingredient to more wins moving forward.

Takeaway #2: Devils’ Speed Too Much For Blues

The Devils showcased their speed on Thursday. At times, they overwhelmed the Blues with it. Ultimately, it helped them score the game-winning goal.

The Devils wore down the Blues in the defensive zone on Luke Hughes’ goal to open the game. After Dvorsky dumped the puck into the offensive zone, the Devils quickly flipped it back on an odd-man rush to make it 2-0 on an Anthony Mantha goal. Mantha scored later after a turnover, making it 4-1 on a breakaway. Lastly, Bratt’s winning goal came off another turnover and a breakaway.

Turnovers are costly, as they are in hockey. When you give up turnovers to a team that already has speed, it becomes even more dangerous. The Blues were victims of both. What makes this more frustrating is that Montgomery made some line changes to improve the overall defense (Aleksanteri Kaskimaki was put on the second line in place of Jonatan Berggren).

Takeaway #3: Binnington Lacked the Momentum-Changing Save

Jordan Binnington was peppered with shots all night and finished with 31 saves. He had some impressive saves, but the momentum-changing save eluded him.

After Thomas’s goal made it 2-1 in the second period, the Devils answered quickly. The Blues had been heavily outplayed up to that point, but Thomas’s goal could have flipped momentum. Binnington could have preserved that, but instead, the Devils opened the game up. In overtime, Binnington had another chance to swing the momentum, but Bratt’s goal ended the game.

I will be fair. Two of those goals were on breakaways. There were also turnovers that led to those goals. Thursday’s loss does not sit on Binnington’s shoulders. However, after watching the Ontario native win a Stanley Cup, a 4 Nations Face-Off championship, and a silver medal, it is hard to see the big save elude him.

Stick Taps

I am giving a stick tap to Colton Parayko. He returned to the lineup after missing two games with an upper-body injury. He played well overall. He played 19:47 and recorded three shots, which tied for second on the team.

Next Game

The road trip wraps up Saturday afternoon with a game against the Nashville Predators. It is the Blues’ second visit to Music City this season.