Martin Necas, acquired alongside Jack Drury from Carolina in exchange for pending unrestricted free agent Mikko Rantanen on January 24, marked his home debut with his first goal for the Avalanche, netting his 17th of the season just 7:39 into the contest.
Drouin kicked off the scoring at 4:57 in the first period and added another goal on the power play shortly after, bringing the score to 3-0. Cale Makar rounded out the first-period scoring with his third goal in three games; he currently leads defensemen with 19 goals and ranks second overall in points with 57.
The final touch came from Joel Kiviranta, who sealed the shutout at 13:21 into the third period. For St. Louis, goalie Joel Hofer had a busy night, making a total of 31 saves. The loss marked the Blues’ fourth consecutive defeat, and they have won just one of their last six games.
Key Takeaways
The Blues continue to struggle offensively amid their four-game slump, having been outscored 16-4 during this stretch and suffering two shutouts.
The Avalanche celebrated Blackwood’s first shutout with the team, marking it as his second of the current season and the 12th of his career.
Key Moment
In a potential turning point late in the second period, the Blues had a chance to score a short-handed goal during a two-on-one break. However, Makar’s timely intervention to block a pass from Rob Thomas thwarted the opportunity as the period came to an end.
Key Stat
The Avalanche’s power play showcased significant improvement after a lengthy struggle, going 3 for 41 in their previous 16 games. They had not scored more than one power-play goal in a game since December 19.
Looking Ahead
Both teams are set for action on Sunday, with the Blues completing a quick two-game road trip in Utah, while the Avalanche prepare to host the Philadelphia Flyers.
