The St. Louis Blues rolled into Canadian Tire Centre on Tuesday night and absolutely put the hurt on the Ottawa Senators, smashing them 7-2 and totally shutting down Ottawa’s three-game winning streak. Forget just the seven goals, which was a season-high for St. Louis, it was *how* they did it that’s got everyone talking. This wasn’t just a win, it was a clinic on how to play a perfect road game, or as close as you can get in the NHL.
The PK Is Unstoppable, And Suter Made ‘Em Pay
Honestly, the Blues’ penalty kill unit is just something else, man. Assistant coach Greg Cronin has these guys flying around the ice with their sticks in every passing lane, completely shutting down time and space. They get right on top of puck handlers, forcing quick decisions, doing exactly what other teams usually try to do to *their* power play. Early on, this unit, featuring Pius Suter, Jonatan Berggren, Colton Parayko, and Justin Barron, killed off three penalties like it was nothing. They were 17-for-18 on the season coming into this game, and even with Fabian Zetterburg getting a power-play goal late in what was already a 7-1 blowout, they’re still an insane 17-for-19.
But the real kicker? Pius Suter himself set the tone for the night. After what felt like a bad call on Cam Fowler, Suter just went out there and netted a shorthanded goal at 14:28 of the first period to make it 1-0! Think about that for a second: at that point, the Blues’ penalty kill had actually scored more goals (2) than their own power play (1). That’s just wild, and it perfectly sums up the aggressive, stifling nature of that unit. The Senators, who came into this game 5-1-0, just couldn’t handle it.
The Instant Answer That Broke Ottawa’s Spirit
But honestly, the *real* moment that showed what this Blues team is truly made of came after Ottawa tried to claw their way back into the game. Claude Giroux scored at 17:52 of the second period, cutting the Blues’ lead to 2-1. You could feel the Senators, who had just won 4-1 at the New Jersey Devils on Monday, start to find some footing. You’re thinking, “uh oh, here come the Sens, this is going to be a nail-biter third period.” Even with Blues defenseman Brandon Carlo playing tough on Tim Stutzle behind the net, it was just some bad luck: the puck bounced off the goal, Stutzle was alert, and he found Giroux for a great shot past Joel Hofer.
But boom, before Ottawa could even catch its breath, Mason McTavish and the second line had an answer. Just 33 seconds later, at 18:25, they restored the two-goal lead to make it 3-1! It was a beautiful 3-on-2 rush where all three guys on that line , McTavish, Connor McMichael, and Berggren , all touched the puck before finding the back of the net. That instant response just crushed any momentum Ottawa had built. It wasn’t just a goal, it was a statement that the Blues weren’t going to let them back in this one.
This wasn’t just a big win for the Blues, it was a statement performance. Seven goals, that absolutely relentless penalty kill, and that instant, spirit-crushing response when Ottawa tried to get back in the game? That’s the kind of complete hockey that shows what this St. Louis team (now 3-2-1) is capable of. Ottawa’s hot streak is over, and the Blues just showed everyone how dangerous they can be on the road.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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