ST. LOUIS — Joel Hofer delivered an impressive performance with 26 saves as the St. Louis Blues secured a 3-2 victory against the struggling New York Rangers on Sunday evening.

Hofer achieved his fourth consecutive win, having faced the Rangers twice during this victorious stretch. St. Louis built an early lead, with contributions from former Rangers player Pavel Buchnevich and Jordan Kyrou, both of whom found the back of the net, allowing the Blues to go up 3-0 by the end of the second period.

In the third period, New York mounted a comeback with goals from Brett Berard and Will Cuylle but fell short. This loss marked the Rangers’ 10th defeat in their last 13 games, putting them in a challenging position for the remainder of the season.

Notable observations from the game include the absence of Rangers’ left winger Artemi Panarin, who was sidelined due to an upper-body injury. Panarin had played 14 minutes and 22 seconds in a previous game against Los Angeles, where the Rangers suffered a significant 5-1 loss. This season, he has registered 15 goals and 36 points.

Blues center Robert Thomas also had a standout performance, earning his 17th assist and extending his point streak to seven games, during which he accumulated four goals and nine assists.

A pivotal moment came in the first period when Hofer successfully denied a slap shot from the Rangers’ Adam Fox on a crucial 2-on-1 opportunity.

A key statistical highlight from the night was Buchnevich’s continued excellence, as he secured points in nine consecutive games, tallying three goals and six assists during that stretch.

Looking ahead, the Rangers will continue their road trip against the Nashville Predators on Tuesday night, while the Blues are set to host the New Jersey Devils on the same evening.