Calgary Flames vs. St. Louis Blues Pick & Prediction JANUARY 12th 2023
The Calgary Flames will try to finish what they started Tuesday when they get their rematch with the host St. Louis Blues Thursday.
The Flames came out playing excellent road hockey in the opener of this two-game set. Then they allowed two third-period goals that tied the game.
Robert Jones
The game went into overtime and Calgary lost 4-3 when the Blues scored on the first shift of three-on-three play. The Flames hope to do better during the second of consecutive games at Enterprise Center.
"It's just tough the way we let this slip -- up two goals in the third period on the road is kind of a good spot to be in and that we let that slip is not very good," said Flames forward Andrew Mangiapane, who scored a goal and added an assist in the game.
"Ideally, you have a two-goal lead in the third period, I think you should win the game," said forward Nazem Kadri, who set up Milan Lucic's goal in the game. "I don't think we gave up a whole lot. They've got some great players over there that take advantage of opportunities. We played 55 good minutes tonight."
The Flames have earned points in 15 of their last 19 games while building a 9-4-6 record during that span.
Tuesday's victory was the start of a season-high, seven-game homestand for the Blues, who are three games over .500 for the first time since starting the season 3-0-0. But they came out flat against the Flames and didn't get going until the third period.
"I didn't feel we had our legs," Blues coach Craig Berube said. "We didn't push hard enough. Going into the game after the long road trip back home, (I was) a little bit worried. But guys responded in the third period. I thought we played a way better period."
The injury-depleted Blues have earned points in 12 of their last 15 games, with a 9-3-3 mark in that stretch. They are missing key forwards Vladimir Tarasenko and Ryan O'Reilly and veteran defensemen Torey Krug, Nick Leddy and Robert Bortuzzo, among others.
Forwards Brandon Saad (five goals, two assists) and Brayden Schenn (three goals, three assists) starred for the Blues on their recent 3-1 road trip.
Then the forward line of Jordan Kyrou (goal, two assists), Robert Thomas (goal, assist) and Pavel Buchnevich (goal, assist) took charge in Tuesday's victory. Thomas scored on a two-on-one break with Kyrou for the decisive goal 28 seconds into overtime.
"Our last two games on the road trip, I didn't like our effort," Thomas said. "I thought we could have been a lot better. We needed to step up tonight, and I thought we did a good job."
Buchnevich noted that the trio has developed good offensive chemistry.
"We just try to play for each other and talking a lot," Buchnevich said. "Definitely those guys have tons of speed, tons of skill. I have different ideas I give them, they listen and I think when we play for each other, good stuff happen."
--Field Level Media
Calgary Flames vs. St. Louis Blues
Jordan Binnington stopped 40 shots as the St. Louis Blues blanked the visiting Calgary Flames 5-0 Thursday night.
Binnington earned his first shutout of the season and the sixth of his career.
Zach Sanford had career-high four points with a goal and three assists. Oskar Sundqvist scored twice for the Blues and David Perron and Vince Dunn also scored.
David Rittich made 26 saves for the Flames.
The Blues are 9-1-2 in their last 12 games. They have suffered just four regulation losses in 23 games.
The Flames' winless streak reached six games (0-5-1). They are 4-9-1 on the road this season.
The Blues started their onslaught in the first period when Robert Thomas made two spin moves, then fed Sanford in the slot for his one-time blast.
Sundqvist made it 2-0, converting Sanford's outlet pass into a breakaway goal 6:23 into the second period. Perron's power-play goal, on a one-time blast from the left circle, pushed the lead to 3-0 about 3 1/2 minutes later.
Sundqvist struck again to make it 4-0 just 2:31 into the third period. Thomas pestered Rittich behind the net, Sanford fished the puck free and centered the puck to Sundqvist -- who had plenty of empty net to shoot at.
Sammy Blais (wrist surgery) joined Vladimir Tarasenko (shoulder surgery) and Alexander Steen (sprained ankle) on the injured list on Thursday. The Blues signed free-agent forward Troy Brouwer -- whose previous stops included the Blues and Flames -- but he was unable to play Thursday due to visa issues.
So Jacob de la Rose drew a chance into the lineup.
The Flames were missing defensemen T.J. Brodie (medical incident), Travis Hamonic (lower body) and forward Sam Bennett (upper body). As a result, Brandon Davidson and Zac Rinaldo have seen their first duty for the Flames this season and the team also called up forward Tobias Rieder and defenseman Alexander Yelesin from Stockton yesterday.
Flames forward Andrew Mangiapane left the game in the second period after absorbing a big hit from Dunn.
--Field Level Media
- NHL
