OTTAWA, ON — Joel Hofer made 37 saves, Jake Neighbours scored twice and the St. Louis Blues beat the Ottawa Senators 5-2 on Thursday night for their fifth victory in six games as they fight for the second and final Western Conference wild-card spot.
The Blues moved a point ahead of Minnesota and within two points of Vegas, with the defending Stanley Cup champion Golden Knights holding the final spot.
Hofer was outstanding in the first period, making a behind-the-back save on Jakob Chychrun and another big save on Brady Tkachuk. The 23-year-old goalie admitted he exchanged a few words with Tkachuk that probably didn’t sit well with the Ottawa captain.
“I love playing the game,” Hofer said. “So, these are obviously fun games and especially games where you get a lot of shots and a lot of high chances it’s always fun making, you know, big saves for the team.”
Ottawa interim coach Jacques Martin said Hofer was the difference in the game.
“There’s no doubt when you look at the number of chances we had,” Martin said. “I think it was 22-12 in our favor.”
Jordan Kyrou had a goal and two assists, and Brandon Saad and Colton Parayko also scored.
“Every game for us is important right now,” Saad said. “For us it’s just focusing on one night at a time and any time we can win and kind of gain points it gives us a good feeling in here and it’s been fun as of late.”
Mark Kastelic and Dominik Kubalik scored for Ottawa, and Anton Forsberg stopped 22 shots. The Senators have lost three straight.
After Kubalik pulled Ottawa to 3-2 on a power play 1:58 into the third period, Kyrou took a pass in front, spun and roofed a shot for his third point of the night at 5:43. Neighbours added an empty-netter.
“The one in the third was big I thought,” Blues interim coach Drew Bannister said. “To be able to come back after that power-play goal. They come back a couple minutes later and score and that was a big response from our group to kind of settle things down on the bench.”
St. Louis center Zach Dean made his NHL debut, replacing the injured Oskar Sundqvist. Dean played junior hockey for the nearby Gatineau Olympiques.
OTTAWA, ON – MARCH 21: St. Louis Blues Center Zach Dean (52) skates before his first career NHL Game during warm-up before National Hockey League action between the St. Louis Blues and Ottawa Senators on March 21, 2024, at Canadian Tire Centre in Ottawa, ON, Canada. (Photo by Richard A. Whittaker/Icon Sportswire)
OTTAWA, ON – MARCH 21: St. Louis Blues Goalie Joel Hofer (30) makes a save on Ottawa Senators Right Wing Drake Batherson (19) during first period National Hockey League action between the St. Louis Blues and Ottawa Senators on March 21, 2024, at Canadian Tire Centre in Ottawa, ON, Canada. (Photo by Richard A. Whittaker/Icon Sportswire)
OTTAWA, ON – MARCH 21: St. Louis Blues Left Wing Brayden Schenn (10), Defenceman Colton Parayko (55) and Center Robert Thomas (18) and Ottawa Senators Left Wing Brady Tkachuk (7) look on as Goalie Joel Hofer (30) makes a blin desperation save during first period National Hockey League action between the St. Louis Blues and Ottawa Senators on March 21, 2024, at Canadian Tire Centre in Ottawa, ON, Canada. (Photo by Richard A. Whittaker/Icon Sportswire)
OTTAWA, ON – MARCH 21: Ottawa Senators Goalie Anton Forsberg (31) looks to make a save during second period National Hockey League action between the St. Louis Blues and Ottawa Senators on March 21, 2024, at Canadian Tire Centre in Ottawa, ON, Canada. (Photo by Richard A. Whittaker/Icon Sportswire)
OTTAWA, ON – MARCH 21: St. Louis Blues Right Wing Jake Neighbours (63) celebrates his goal with teammates Defenceman Justin Faulk (72), Left Wing Brayden Schenn (10) and Center Robert Thomas (18) during second period National Hockey League action between the St. Louis Blues and Ottawa Senators on March 21, 2024, at Canadian Tire Centre in Ottawa, ON, Canada. (Photo by Richard A. Whittaker/Icon Sportswire)
OTTAWA, ON – MARCH 21: St. Louis Blues Defenceman Marco Scandella (6) keeps eyes on the play during third period National Hockey League action between the St. Louis Blues and Ottawa Senators on March 21, 2024, at Canadian Tire Centre in Ottawa, ON, Canada. (Photo by Richard A. Whittaker/Icon Sportswire)
OTTAWA, ON – MARCH 21: Ottawa Senators Right Wing Dominik Kubalik (81) celebrates his goal with Defenceman Erik Brannstrom (26) during third period National Hockey League action between the St. Louis Blues and Ottawa Senators on March 21, 2024, at Canadian Tire Centre in Ottawa, ON, Canada. (Photo by Richard A. Whittaker/Icon Sportswire)
OTTAWA, ON – MARCH 21: Ottawa Senators Center Mark Kastelic (12) applies pressure on the forecheck during third period National Hockey League action between the St. Louis Blues and Ottawa Senators on March 21, 2024, at Canadian Tire Centre in Ottawa, ON, Canada. (Photo by Richard A. Whittaker/Icon Sportswire)
OTTAWA, ON – MARCH 21: St. Louis Blues Left Wing Zachary Bolduc (76) skates with eyes on the play during third period National Hockey League action between the St. Louis Blues and Ottawa Senators on March 21, 2024, at Canadian Tire Centre in Ottawa, ON, Canada. (Photo by Richard A. Whittaker/Icon Sportswire)
OTTAWA, ON – MARCH 21: St. Louis Blues Center Kevin Hayes (12) skates with the puck during third period National Hockey League action between the St. Louis Blues and Ottawa Senators on March 21, 2024, at Canadian Tire Centre in Ottawa, ON, Canada. (Photo by Richard A. Whittaker/Icon Sportswire)
