The St. Louis Blues will try to capitalize on what amounts to a breakthrough when they host the Utah Mammoth on Saturday.
The Blues have been struggling to score 5-on-5 goals, hold leads and close out victories after opponents pull their goaltender for an extra attacker.
They checked all three of those boxes against the Ottawa Senators in a 4-3 victory on Friday. The win was just St. Louis’ fourth in 13 home games (4-5-4).
“The third period, the desperation that we played with, that got us three goals – I think it’s the most 5-on-5 goals we’ve had in a period this year – that’s the catalyst that we need to carry on, if we’re going to get on a roll,” Blues coach Jim Montgomery said. “And we’re going to get on a roll.
“That’s the kind of game, when you come from behind, your crowd is going nuts, you’ve got another game tomorrow night in front of the same crowd. … it’s time for us to show the desperation and keep building on this.”
Pavel Buchnevich scored his first even-strength goal of the season Friday while extending his point streak to four games (one goal, three assists).
“I just know that he’s been playing the right way since we went on the road in Toronto, playing a much more hard offensive game and he’s been having a lot of opportunities,” Montgomery said.
Since Jordan Binnington was in the crease on Friday and the Blues play again on Monday, Joel Hofer likely will get the start against Utah.
Since starting the season with an 8-2-0 record, Utah has sputtered to a 4-8-3 mark. The Mammoth began their demanding six-game road trip by losing to the Stars 4-3 on Friday night in Dallas.
Clayton Keller, who grew up in the St. Louis area, played against the Stars despite learning of the sudden death of his father Bryan on Thursday.
“Clayton wants to play and be with the team,” Mammoth coach Andre Tourigny said. “All the organization is with him with all of our heart. He’s been nothing but an unbelievable teammate. His family is unbelievable so we’re all with him during this tough time.
“There is nothing you can really do in these moments but be there. The big thing for us is to be there and support him. Loyalty is when people need you, to be there.”
Utah defeated the Blues 7-4 on Oct. 23, scoring three goals against both Binnington and Hofer.
Logan Cooley recorded a hat trick and added an assist in that game. Keller (two goals, assist), Nick Schmaltz (goal, two assists) and Dylan Guenther (three assists) and JJ Peterka (three assists) each had three points.
Vitek Vanecek started in goal for the Mammoth in Dallas, so Utah likely will turn to Karel Vejmelka on Saturday.
Vejmelka, who has started seven of his team’s last nine games, stopped 16 of 20 shots when the Mammoth defeated the Blues earlier this season.
