BLUES AT GOLDEN KNIGHTS
When: Monday, March 22 at 9 p.m. CT
Where: T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas
Watch: FOX Sports Midwest, FOX Sports GO
Listen: Q94 93.9 fm 101 ESPN, NHL App
Season series presented by Bommarito Automotive Group: Vegas leads 2-1
TEAM SNAPSHOTS
BLUES Despite being without Oskar Sundqvist (torn ACL), Zach Sanford (COVID protocol) and Tyler Bozak (upper-body injury), the Blues battled through and earned a convincing 5-2 win against the San Jose Sharks on Saturday night.
Ryan O’Reilly and David Perron had four points each (one goal, three assists) in Saturday’s win, and linemate Jordan Kyrou contributed two goals and an assist.
After going winless in five straight games (3-0-2), the Blues have now won two straight entering Monday’s matchup with the Vegas Golden Knights.
“We just kept working and got some huge goals for us tonight,” O’Reilly said of his line after Saturday’s win.”It’s nice to contribute. We have to keep stepping up in times, especially as we get into these really crucial games.”
The Blues currently sit in fourth place in the West Division with 16-10-5 (37 points). Only the top four teams in each division will qualify for the playoffs in this 56-game season.
GOLDEN KNIGHTS The Vegas Golden Knights dropped a 3-1 decision to the Los Angeles Kings on Sunday afternoon at Staples Center.
Tomas Nosek scored for Vegas, who was playing without Max Pacioretty due to a lower-body injury. Pacioretty is considered day-to-day and his status for Monday’s game against the Blues isn’t known. Former Blue Alex Pietrangelo is on long-term injured reserve.
Sunday’s loss snapped a five-game win streak for Vegas, who leads the West Division with 43 points (21-7-1).
THE SERIES SO FAR
Jan. 26: Blues 5, Golden Knights 4 (SO)
A back-and-forth game featured an excessive amount of penalties by both teams, but the Blues emerged with a 5-4 win thanks to shootout goals from David Perron and Brayden Schenn. Perron also scored twice in regulation, and Jordan Kyrou turned heads with a dazzling goal that former Blue Alex Pietrangelo frustrated. Max Pacioretty netted a hat trick for Vegas, but Jordan Binnington made 42 saves to help the Blues to a win in the first game of the series.
March 12: Golden Knights 5, Blues 4 (OT)
Vladimir Tarasenko scored his first goal of the season in his third game back from shoulder surgery, helping the Blues overcome a 2-0 first period deficit to earn a point in an eventual overtime loss against the Golden Knights. Zach Sanford registered a goal and an assist, and Jordan Binnington made 35 saves. The Blues lost their third straight game in overtime but have still managed to collect points in seven consecutive games (4-0-3).
March 13: Golden Knights 5, Blues 1
Max Pacioretty had a goal and two assists and Mark Stone scored twice in the third period to help Vegas to a 5-1 win against the Blues in the second game of a back-to-back set between the teams in St. Louis. It was Vegas’ first-ever win in regulation against St. Louis.
