‘That should be the expectation’: Blues submit complete game in overtime win vs. Bruins

BOSTON Little by little on Saturday afternoon, the Blues pushed the Bruins closer and closer to the precipice.

In jumping out to an early lead in the first period, in creating a wave of attacks in the second period, in forechecking their way to the game-tying goal in the third period, and in Brayden Schenns overtime goal, the Blues kept on nudging the Bruins toward the loss column in an eventual 3-2 St.

Louis win.

The Blues submitted perhaps their most complete performance of the season, and in doing so, snapped their four-game losing streak.

In addition to Schenns overtime winner, Radek Faksa and Nathan Walker scored for the Blues to support Jordan Binningtons 15 saves.

St.

Louis native Trent Frederic scored both goals for the Bruins.

We definitely deserved to win that game, Blues coach Drew Bannister said.

Theres not a question.

We get a little puck luck, that game could have been out of hand at that end of the second period.

I thought our guys were great in all three zones.

We created a lot offensively.

I thought we held on to pucks, we transitioned the puck well.

We broke the puck out well.

In total, the Blues outshot the Bruins 31-17.

In controlling 61.54% of the shot attempts and 65.12% of the shots on goal at 5 on 5, the Blues possessed the puck more than in any other game this season, according to Natural Stat Trick.

The Blues dominated the second period in particular, outshooting the Bruins 9-5 and attempting 28 shots to Bostons 11.

While they entered second intermission down 2-1, it was clear which team was the better one on the ice through 40 minutes.

If you look at the game as a whole, I thought we were resilient, Schenn said.

We had our skating legs today and we had good jump, and played hard in all three zones.

We had some selfless hockey, too, in the second period with guys setting each (other) up on line changes and getting rewarded for it with chances.

Walker tied the game about halfway through the third period, finishing an effective forechecking shift by his line with Faksa and Alexey Toropchenko by snapping home a shot from the slot.

Faksa delivered a no-look pass from below the goalline to pick up the primary assist, and post his first multi-point game as a Blue.

Defensemen Justin Faulk and Scott Perunovich were also on the ice, and kept the puck alive in the offensive zone by pinching down the walls.

Faulker made a great read pinching down and I was kind of feeling in for him, Walker said.

As he was coming back, I crept into that middle spot and Faksa made a great play to the middle.

Just fortunate enough to get a decent shot off.

Big goal by a little guy, said the 5-10 Perunovich about the 5-9 Walker.

Five guys on the ice did their job.

Faks made a great play.

Walkers goal was the second by his line on Saturday, and Walker helped set up Faksas goal by chipping the puck into the offensive zone, allowing Toropchenko to recover a puck and Perunovich to get a shot towards the net for Faksa to tip.

Bannister called them a hard line to play against, that has been playing well for a long time.

We like to keep it simple, Walker said.

We know what our strengths are and we like to play to them.

Sometimes it works out where we can get on the scoresheet, too.

Sometimes, it doesnt, obviously.

Tonight was just one of those games where a couple things happened for us.

Schenn finished the game 2:53 into overtime by scoring in a familiar way: on the rush in overtime, coming down the left wing, and shooting far side on the opposing goalie, this time Bostons Joonas Korpisalo.

It was a similar way that he won the game for the Blues on Oct.

10 in San Jose.

Asked about shooting far side in overtime again, Schenn quipped Cant talk secrets, can we? Just whatever you see, Schenn said.

Some goalies play it a little bit different.

Theres prescouts on every goalie, so you just go in and try and make a shot.

I was able to beat Korpisalo with that one.

Bannister: Weve seen that before from Schenner coming down that left side and pulling the string, so happy for him.

It was Schenns ninth overtime goal for the Blues, and he now trails Vladimir Tarasenko by one for the most in franchise history.

Earlier in overtime, though, Schenn prevented a would-be Boston game-winner by David Pastrnak by blocking a shot out of play and protecting an open net.

It would have been Pastrnaks second game-winner against St.

Louis in the last three games after he beat the Blues on Tuesday at Enterprise Center.

Pastrnak scored last game and that was my block (to make), Schenn said.

I got him tonight.

Hes always hanging out over there, hes a dynamic shooter.

Hes a hell of a player, and was able to get in front of that today.

The win was the next step for the Blues (8-9-1) in clawing their way back towards a winning record.

One step was picking up a point during an overtime loss in Buffalo on Thursday.

Another was putting together a complete effort in Boston.

The Blues could have put up a crooked number on Boston had they capitalized on earlier chances in the game; Jordan Kyrou hit two posts and Schenn was denied on three prime chances by Korpisalo.

Weve been waiting for that, Perunovich said.

We know how good we can be, and its frustrating when things arent clicking.

Thats just how it goes for every team in every league.

Definitely feels nice to get closer to our game and come out with the win.

Bannister: Were not out of it here yet.

Weve got a lot of work yet to be done, and continue to get better and continue to have more consistency in our game.

Ive said this before, and thats the team that we are.

If we can buy into the way we play and the compete level, good things start to happen, thats the bar for us.

That should be the expectation every night..

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