ST. LOUIS — The New York Rangers‘ struggles continued Sunday night as they fell 3-2 to the St. Louis Blues at the Enterprise Center. Blues goaltender Joel Hofer stole the show, making 26 saves en route to his fourth consecutive victory, including two wins against the Rangers during this streak.
Game Recap:
The Blues dominated the early stages of the game, building a 3-0 lead by the second period. Former Ranger Pavel Buchnevich struck first, extending his personal point streak to nine games with a goal early in the second period. Jordan Kyrou added to the tally shortly after, and Robert Thomas, who notched a goal and an assist, continued his impressive run with his seventh straight game registering points.
The Rangers mounted a late comeback attempt in the third period. Rookie Brett Berard scored, and Will Cuylle followed with another to cut the deficit to one. However, Hofer and the Blues’ defense held strong, denying New York the equalizer.
Key Takeaways:
- Rangers’ Injuries Bite Back: New York was without star winger Artemi Panarin, who sat out with an upper-body injury. Panarin, a crucial offensive catalyst with 36 points this season, logged limited ice time in Saturday’s 5-1 loss to the Kings.
- Blues Players Shine: Thomas’ seventh-game point streak has been a bright spot for St. Louis, tallying four goals and nine assists during the stretch. Buchnevich has also been red hot, amassing points in nine straight games.
Key Moment:
Hofer’s brilliant stop on a short-handed 2-on-1 slap shot from Adam Fox midway through the first period kept the game scoreless and set the tone for St. Louis’ defensive strength throughout.
Looking Ahead:
- Rangers: New York looks to bounce back on the road as they face the Nashville Predators on Tuesday night.
This loss marks the Rangers’ 10th defeat in their last 13 games, signaling the need for significant adjustments as they try to regain early-season form.
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