The St. Louis Blues have been struggling with their special teams throughout the season, a pattern they’ve lamented repeatedly. Hoping for a shift and a positive team atmosphere, they faced the Florida Panthers, who are two-time Stanley Cup champions, aiming for some revenge.
That momentum swung in their favor when Jimmy Snageld scored a crucial power-play goal with just nine seconds remaining, clinching a 5-4 victory for the Blues at the Enterprise Center on Thursday. Snageld received a quick, precise cross-ice pass from Pavel Buchnevich in the left circle and unleashed a one-timer past the Panthers’ goaltender Daniil Tarasov, securing his team’s first win after five straight losses (0-4-1).
Snageld reflected on the play, mentioning that tired legs in the zone made the situation tough, but he relied on teammates Jordan Caillou and Buchnevich to set up the play, telling himself to just get the puck into a good scoring position. Nathan Kairou contributed with a goal and two assists, while Justin Faulk and Buchnevich added two assists each. Other goal scorers included Jake Neighbors, Oskar Sundqvist, and Jonathan Berggren, with Joel Hofer making 17 saves.
Faulk expressed relief at ending their tough losing streak, acknowledging that the game was a challenging back-and-forth—trailing early, then tying it, and finally securing victory in the final moments. Sundqvist noted the importance of staying resilient, especially after falling behind by three goals by the end of the second period, emphasizing the hard work and determination needed to bounce back.
The game highlighted some key observations:
Special teams played a decisive role. The Blues struggled early on with penalty killing, allowing multiple power-play goals in several recent games. Sam Reinhart scored one in the first period to tie the game, and Matthew Tkachuk’s late second-period goal erased the Blues’ lead, making it 4-4.
A pivotal moment occurred when Nick Bjugstad was called for a double minor against Evan Rodriguez, who was playing his 600th NHL game. Despite the penalty, the Blues’ penalty kill held firm, with the Panthers—ranked 22nd on the power play—failing to register a shot during the four-minute advantage.
Capitalizing on their special teams, the Blues went 5-for-7 on the kill and successfully executed a late-game power play. With just 40 seconds remaining on a 4-on-3 advantage, and after a controversial penalty on Niko Mikkola, the Blues patiently worked the puck until Caillou made the right pass to Buchnevich, who set up Snageld for the game-winner.
The game was marked by numerous penalties, with referees calling 18 penalties across 44 minutes, disrupting the flow and making it a chaotic contest. Faulk commented on the unusual frequency of penalties, noting that his team didn’t often see such a penalty-heavy game but was pleased with the overall result.
Throughout the game, special teams momentum was crucial. Sundqvist mentioned how the frequent power plays and kills made it difficult for players not involved in those situations, but the Blues did well to stay composed and generate chances five-on-five as well.
Another notable aspect was the Blues’ ability to turn the game around early on when Florida started strong. After a coverage error led to an early goal by Grier, the Blues responded with aggressive play and quick transitions. Goals from Neighbors, Caillou, and Berggren gave them a lead, demonstrating their resilience. Montgomery praised Wall’s performance in the first period and emphasized the importance of winning battles and taking advantage of odd-man rushes against a tough Florida team.
Finally, three Blues players—Sundqvist, Caillou, and Neighbors—scored on what were decided to be game-time decisions, all feeling good enough to play after the morning skate. Montgomery joked about Sundqvist’s creative play and appreciated the team’s ability to respond positively after uncertainties about their health.
This game exemplifies how resilience, disciplined special teams play, and patient execution under pressure can turn a season around, providing a blueprint for the Blues moving forward.
Fan Take: This thrilling finish shows that even in a tough season, perseverance and smart special teams can deliver game-changing moments. For hockey fans, it’s a reminder that resilience and strategic play remain at the heart of the sport’s excitement—making every game worth watching.
