Binnington Makes 40 Saves to Help Blues Beat Flames 5-0

ST. LOUIS — Jordan Binnington stopped 40 shots for his sixth career shutout and Oskar Sundqvist scored twice to lead the St. Louis Blues to a 5-0 win over the Calgary Flames on Thursday night.

St. Louis Blues Jordan Binnington
St. Louis Blues goaltender Jordan Binnington (THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP, Tom Gannam)

Zach Sanford had a goal and three assists, David Perron and Vince Dunn also scored and Robert Thomas added three assists to help the Blues improve to 9-1-2 in their last 12 games.

David Rittich finished with 26 saves for Calgary, which has lost six in a row while being outscored 23-5.

Binnington, who helped the Blues to their first Stanley Cup title last season, got his first shutout this season. His biggest save came late in the second when he halted Johnny Gaudreau on a breakaway.

Sanford converted on a one-timer off a pass from Thomas with just under eight minutes left in the first to get the Blues on the scoreboard. He finished with his first career four-point game.

Zach Sanford Blues
Zach Sanford (Jeff Curry-USA TODAY Sports)

Sundqvist converted on a breakaway midway through the second period for a 2-0 lead. He added his sixth of the season early in the final period. It was his first two-goal game since scoring twice in a 5-3 win over Vegas on Nov. 1, 2018.

Perron made it 3-0 near the midpoint of the second with his 10th and Dunn capped the scoring near midway through the third.

NOTES: Binnington improved to 11-3-4 and has allowed two goals or fewer in nine of his last 12 starts. … Calgary has surrendered the first goal in its last eight games, and 17 of 25 overall this season. … The Blues were decked out in retro sweaters that were worn from 1994-98. It was the first of three appearances with the alternate jerseys this season. … St. Louis RW Troy Brouwer, who was signed on Wednesday, did not play due to work visa issues.

UP NEXT

Flames: At Philadelphia on Saturday for the second game of a four-game trip.

Blues: Host Nashville on Saturday.

___

More AP NHL: www.apnews.com/NHL and www.twitter.com/AP_Sports

By Steve Overbey, The Associated Press