ST. LOUIS (AP) — The St. Louis Blues secured a commanding 3-1 victory over the Colorado Avalanche on Sunday night at the Enterprise Center, showcasing their prowess during the game’s pivotal second period. Colton Parayko scored the go-ahead goal, with additional contributions from Dylan Holloway and Brayden Schenn, and Jordan Binnington registered 27 saves.
The matchup marked another chapter in the Central Division rivalry, with the Blues needing this win to improve their standing. After falling to the Winnipeg Jets on Saturday, the Blues were eager to bounce back. Having previously lost by the slimmest of margins, they came prepared for the challenges Colorado would present.
Colorado led initially with Devon Toews managing to put the Avalanche on the scoreboard just 7:49 minutes after the first puck drop. A little over seven minutes later, Toews managed to deflect a stunning wrist shot from teammate Cale Makar, who reached the milestone of 400 career points with the assist.
“Just a perfect shot for him to give me the opportunity to touch the puck. Just a generational player, fun to play with,” Toews commented after the game.
Despite the early energy from Colorado, the Blues rebounded swiftly. Brayden Schenn tied the game at 10:45 of the second period, capitalizing on a play initiated by Jordan Kyrou and assisted by Justin Faulk. Schenn scored from the left circle, redirecting the puck past Avalanche goaltender Mackenzie Blackwood.
The Blues continued to dominate the second frame, with Parayko tapping in a loose puck at 14:13, which shifted the momentum decidedly. Just before the period closed, Holloway stretched the lead to 3-1, redirecting the puck with just 10 seconds left, sending fans at the Enterprise Center to their feet.
“They werebetter in every aspect of the game, for the most part,” Cale Makar said. “A lot of it on ourselves, just not moving feet, not supporting each other on the ice, and then we don’t get to the net, it’s hard to generate chances.”
Blackwood, who made 22 saves during the game, found himself frequently under pressure as the Blues’ offensive strategy of heavy forechecking stifled the Avalanche's attempts to realize their game plan. He may have had the opportunity to save Parayko's goal but couldn’t reposition fast enough.
Makar's frustration as the game slipped away was palpable. “Unfortunate for Blacky (Blackwood) right now because we just can’t do something in front of him, can’t score goals right now. It's gonna come,” Makar added, indicating confidence the Avalanche can regroup.
The lack of consistency on the part of the Avalanche emerged as the key element throughout the game. Although the team displayed intensity early on, they failed to maintain pressure against the Blues later, particularly during the second period—resulting from missed opportunities and lapses on defense.
Coach Jared Bednar shared his disappointment, asserting, “Can’t just be the top line, the power play and a couple of D scoring. We have to find ways to chip in with those other lines.” He emphasized the importance of depth scoring to secure games moving forward.
This matchup cemented the power dynamic within the Central Division, and for the Blues, it reaffirmed their push toward the playoffs. St. Louis aims to capitalize on this momentum as they prepare for their upcoming game against the Seattle Kraken.
Colorado continues to recover, eyeing strategies to regain their competitive edge as they head home to face New Jersey. With the playoff race heating up, both teams will need to recalibrate and focus on honing their respective game plans moving forward.
Next, the Avalanche will host the New Jersey Devils this Wednesday night, trying to shift back to winning ways, whereas St. Louis will seek to keep the momentum going when they host the Seattle Kraken on Tuesday.