The St. Louis Blues continue to display a spirited attitude in their quest to make the playoffs for the first time in three seasons.
Meanwhile, another dim postseason outlook hasn’t stopped the Pittsburgh Penguins from trying to finish strong.
With points in 11 of their last 13 games, the visiting Blues will look to keep the Penguins from recording a third straight victory Thursday night.
St. Louis entered play Wednesday one point out of the final wild-card spot in the Western Conference thanks to an 8-2-3 stretch. That includes a 2-1-1 mark on the Blues’ six-game road trip, which has featured four days without a game since Saturday’s 2-1 overtime loss at Los Angeles.
Nick Leddy’s goal early in the third period ultimately forced the extra session. It was another example of the fight shown by the Blues, who last made a postseason appearance in 2022.
“It’s never easy, and teams are pushing for the playoffs,” said Leddy, who has recorded his first two points of the season in the last two games. “I’m definitely pretty proud of the guys.”
St. Louis’ last three games each have been decided by one goal, but the other two ended with victories.
“It’s important for us to keep pushing forward,” veteran St. Louis forward Brayden Schenn told The Athletic. “These are big games to play. It gets guys competitive. It gets us playing for one another, and that’s how you start building a culture, and a winning culture again.”
St. Louis’ Zack Bolduc assisted on Leddy’s goal at Los Angeles and has posted nine of his 24 points over the last 11 games.
Teammate Jordan Binnington has a 2.12 goals-against average and .912 save percentage while winning five of his last six starts. Backup Joel Hofer (2.89 GAA) stopped 21 of 23 shots against the Kings.
Pittsburgh, meanwhile, is all but headed to a third straight season without a playoff appearance. Yet the Penguins pulled out of a 1-7-1 rut by winning 3-1 at Minnesota and 3-2 over Vegas at home in overtime. On Tuesday against the Golden Knights, Sidney Crosby recorded his second straight two-goal game. Tristan Jarry was again strong in his second start since being recalled from a lengthy AHL stint, which came after the Penguins waived him in mid-January.
“(Those are) the kind of efforts we need,” said Crosby, who ranks second among active NHL players with 105 multi-goal games.
“It’s not always going to be pretty. As long as we stick together, play as a group, do our best and give ourselves a chance. … We need to continue with that kind of effort.”
Crosby has five goals and 12 points during his eight-game home points streak.
Jarry, who had a 3.31 goals-against average in his first 22 games for Pittsburgh, has stopped 64 of 67 shots in two wins since his return.
“I just think he’s playing up to his capabilities,” Penguins coach Mike Sullivan said.
Meanwhile, longtime Penguins No. 1 netminder Alex Nedeljkovic owns a 4.43 goals-against average and an 0-5-0 record in his last six starts.
Pittsburgh has won six of the last seven against the Blues, including four in a row at home. Crosby has a goal in three straight home games versus St. Louis.
Blues points leader Robert Thomas has been blanked in two consecutive games, but he has a goal and seven assists in nine contests against the Penguins.
–Field Level Media
