Hofer Makes 27 Saves as Blues Shut Out Sabres 3-0
Goalie Joel Hofer delivered a strong performance with 27 saves, earning his third NHL shutout as the St. Louis Blues defeated the Buffalo Sabres 3-0 on Thursday night.
Game Highlights
- Mathieu Joseph recorded a short-handed goal and two assists.
- Justin Faulk contributed a goal and an assist.
- Nick Bjugstad also added a goal, marking the Blues’ first shutout since the season opener.
Team Recovery and Strategy
The Blues bounced back after a tough 6-1 loss to Washington. Coach Jim Montgomery enforced a mandatory morning skate and decided to bench top scorer Jordan Kyrou to energize the struggling lineup.
Sabres Streak Ends
Buffalo’s seven-game point streak (3-0-4) came to an end as they were shut out for the first time since their opening game. Goalie Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen made 14 saves in his third game of the season after recovering from a preseason lower-body injury.
Momentum-Changing Moments
St. Louis scored its first goal during a period with only four shots on target. Joseph intercepted a pass from Jack Quinn in the defensive zone and fired past Luukkonen from the high slot 12:38 into the game.
“Hofer gloved Josh Doan’s shot from inside the crease earlier on the penalty kill that produced Joseph’s goal.”
The backup goaltender improved to a 2-3-0 record after conceding 20 goals in his previous five appearances.
Author’s Summary
The Blues rebounded confidently behind Joel Hofer’s shutout, snapping the Sabres’ strong run and reigniting their own momentum with a balanced offensive push.